KANSAS CITY -- The Royals are navigating new bumps in the rehab process for two pitchers who have been sidelined for most of the season.
Right-hander Alec Marsh, on the 60-day IL for a right shoulder impingement, has been shut down in Arizona with his shoulder not responding well to his throwing progression. He will be re-evaluated on July 9, manager Matt Quatraro said Saturday afternoon ahead of a contest vs. the Dodgers.
Righty Kyle Wright, who has been working his way back from right shoulder surgery, was scratched from his start in Triple-A Omaha on Friday night after feeling tightness in his left oblique while warming up in the bullpen.
He’ll be in Kansas City on Monday for an MRI, which will help determine the severity and next steps.
“He pulled himself prior to the start of the game,” Quatraro said. “... It’s mild, but they’re going to check it out.”
Wright underwent right shoulder surgery at the end of 2023 and spent the entire ‘24 season rehabbing with the Royals. He got back on the mound in Spring Training, but the Royals slowly brought him along in his progression, given the significant surgery and how long he had been out. He had two stints on a rehab assignment this season and had built up to four innings by the time his second stint reached the maximum 30 days a pitcher can spend on a rehab assignment before a team must activate him.
The Royals activated Wright this past Monday but optioned him to Triple-A to allow him to keep building up as a starter and settling into the routine of a rotation.
The 30-year-old Wright was supposed to make his first non-rehab start on Friday with Omaha, but the tightness he felt while warming up caused the Storm Chasers to pivot before first pitch.
Marsh has yet to see significant progress from the right shoulder injury he’s been dealing with since the beginning of Spring Training. The 27-year-old had just gotten back into extended spring training games at the beginning of April when he felt increased soreness in his shoulder.
After an evaluation in Kansas City, Marsh was shut down for a few weeks but began a new throwing program in Arizona at the end of April.
Quatraro said Marsh had been throwing off the mound but had yet to face hitters when he was shut down last week with his shoulder not responding well. The July evaluation will give the Royals a better idea of what he’s dealing with and what might come next.
Reliever Hunter Harvey, another pitcher who has been sidelined for most of the season, is slowly building up in his throwing progression. He’s scheduled for a light throwing session off the mound on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. After starting the season strong with 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Harvey was placed on the 15-day IL in April with a right teres major strain and was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 5.
Anne Rogers covers the Royals for MLB.com.