KANSAS CITY -- Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia still hasn’t shaken the right elbow soreness that caused him to exit Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning, with Sunday being the third consecutive day Garcia was out of the lineup.
He entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and remained in the game at third base. In two trips to the plate, Garcia popped out and walked.
Garcia said Friday he was feeling much better and reiterated that point Saturday, especially after he participated in infield drills and unleashed some higher-intensity throws from third base.
He did a similar pregame routine Sunday with throwing, which is the main aspect that is affected. Garcia has been available off the bench for pinch-hit opportunities and was again Sunday.
“We’re just being cautious,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s too valuable for us to have something happen. We have [Nick] Loftin at third, we feel good about that, but with the day off tomorrow, just wanted to be cautious.
“... We feel good about Tuesday.”
Quatraro said Garcia feels fine hitting, but the Royals had Salvador Perez as the designated hitter Sunday to give Garcia as much rest as possible before Monday’s team off-day.
“It was like a cramp after I threw the ball and swung the bat,” Garcia said of what he felt on Wednesday. “I was playing careful that day. After my third at-bat, I didn’t want to have another at-bat playing careful. Got it checked out and did my treatment, and feel better. For this game, I’ll be able to come off the bench and play tomorrow hopefully.”
Loftin entered for Garcia in the sixth inning on Wednesday and was his replacement Friday night, batting leadoff and playing third. Loftin remained the third baseman Saturday and Sunday, but catcher Carter Jensen batted leadoff Saturday and Lane Thomas hit first Sunday.
Garcia went 0-for-3 on Wednesday, but is batting .265 with a .724 OPS through 25 games. He had been hitting well previously in this series, notching three hits on Monday followed by an RBI single with two runs scored in Tuesday’s victory.
After the 2023 season, Garcia had a procedure to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, when he last felt soreness like this, but he hasn’t missed any time since and hopefully won’t now despite dealing with the soreness. The Royals need him playing every day like he has for them -- and producing like he has been throughout his All-Star 2025 season and the beginning of ‘26.