DETROIT -- The Kyle Zimmer story took another turn on Friday when the Royals demoted him for the second time this season.

Zimmer, a right-hander and the club's first-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, finally made his big league debut earlier this season after a long battle with injuries. But Zimmer once again has been dogged by lack of command.

After making the Royals' roster out of Spring Training, Zimmer was demoted in early April after walking five batters in two outings here at Comerica Park. On Thursday, Zimmer walked the first three hitters he faced in relief in a 10-8 loss to the Tigers. On Friday, Zimmer was demoted to Triple-A Omaha and left-hander Eric Skoglund was called up to fill the roster spot.

In three outings at Comerica Park this season, Zimmer has walked eight batters in 2 1/3 innings.

“Where he is at, he has worked so hard to get himself healthy,” manager Ned Yost said. “And he’s healthy. But this game isn’t about standing on the mound and raring back and throwing as hard as you can. This game is about feel and touch, and being a pitcher, not a thrower. And right now, he is a total thrower. Right now there is no feel and touch, or semblance of pitching. You have to make an adjustment.”

Yost has by no means given up on Zimmer.

“You have to make an adjustment to make that fine line up here,” Yost said. “John Smoltz always said you needed to throw at 96 percent. He could throw a 97-mph fastball, but still command it. But he said if he threw 100 percent, he would have no command.

“Kyle has a tremendous curveball and he can throw a 96-97-98 [mph] fastball. But without command ... you can’t come in and walk the bases loaded in the big leagues. You can’t. He’s finally got healthy. But now he has to learn how to pitch. This game has morphed into a game of stuff. But stuff don’t win if you can’t command. He’s got the stuff. But you have to learn feel and touch. He has what it takes. But he has to learn the feel and touch. It’s a progression.”

Yost said he believes Zimmer will find that feel and touch.

“It came to Greg Holland pretty quick,” Yost recalled. “His first year, he was all over the place. I said, ‘You got to learn some feel and touch.’ And he didn’t think he could do it. But then he did. Really quick.”

Holland, Yost said, found that feel after a year in winter ball. Yost believes Zimmer can find the same path this offseason.

“If he’s healthy, absolutely,” Yost said. “He’s got to pitch. You can’t read a book and learn it. You have to go do it.”

Skoglund, who was suspended 80 games to start the season for being in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, has made 11 starts between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Omaha. He went 2-4 with a 6.49 ERA.

Skoglund won’t be called upon as a starter because the Royals have two off-days next week.

“I don’t need a starter,” Yost said. “I just need an arm.”