Injuries & Moves: Staumont (neck) to IL; Cox recalled
LATEST NEWS
June 7: RHP Josh Staumont placed on 15-day IL; LHP Austin Cox recalled from Triple-A Omaha
Staumont was placed on the IL with a neck strain retroactive to June 6. He pitched one inning of relief on Monday at Miami, giving up two runs on two hits with a strikeout. Cox has made one big league appearance with the Royals, on May 4 against Baltimore, tossing two scoreless innings.
During his stint at Omaha, Cox said he worked on his slider and getting back to the basics that first got him to the big leagues. The southpaw will provide multiple innings of relief, and he’s an option for spot starts or to be used as an opener.
“Just being ready at all times,” Cox said. “I’ve picked a lot of guys' minds, older guys that started and went to the bullpen, and guys in the bullpen who have been successful. I think that’s been a lot of help. … Be ready when you’re called on. Coming in every day, being ready to pitch.”
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
LHP Amir Garrett (left elbow valgus extension overload)
Expected return: Mid-to-late July
Garrett took a step forward in his recovery, playing catch on June 7. He was placed on the IL on June 2, retroactive to May 29, with elbow pain that manager Matt Quatraro described "similar to a bone bruise," and said the lefty will be shut down for five to seven days before being reevaluated. Garrett's return could be anywhere from three to four weeks. The lefty reliever last pitched May 29 against St. Louis, where he struck out two over an inning of scoreless relief. (Last updated: June 7)
RHP Brad Keller (right shoulder impingement syndrome)
Expected return: Late June
After experiencing a velocity dip and shoulder soreness in his start against the Padres on May 15, when he walked eight in 3 2/3 innings, Keller was placed on the IL retroactive to May 16. He played catch on June 7. Prior to that, he threw a live bullpen session to face hitters on June 2 at Kauffman Stadium.
“He’s kind of in his normal progression, ramping up,” manager Matt Quatraro said. (Last updated: June 7)
OF Kyle Isbel (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: Mid-June
Isbel is headed to Arizona to "continue his progress," manager Matt Quatraro said on June 7. Isbel suffered a hamstring strain while running out a bunt base hit on May 4 against the Orioles. He exited the game immediately and had an MRI done, which showed a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He was placed on the 10-day IL on May 5. Isbel began his rehab process on May 9 and has been ramping up baseball activity for the past several weeks. He ran the bases on June 2 and "felt good," Quatraro said, so the Royals are eyeing a rehab assignment after next week's road trip if everything continues to go well. (Last updated: June 7)
LHP Josh Taylor (left shoulder impingement syndrome)
Expected return: TBD
Taylor had soreness following his relief appearance on May 27 against the Nationals, when he gave up three hits and two runs without recording an out. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Taylor would be shut down for the next five to seven days before being reevaluated. (Last updated: May 28)
60-day IL
LHP Ryan Yarbrough (head fractures)
Expected return: TBD
Yarbrough is scheduled to have his third and final follow-up doctor's appointment on June 8.
"So far, everything has checked out really well," manager Matt Quatraro said.
Yarbrough was hit in the face by a 106.2 mph line drive off the bat of A's first baseman Ryan Noda on May 7, immediately exiting the game and going to the hospital. The Royals' lefty has multiple nondisplaced fractures around his left eye but did not need surgery. Yarbrough was released from the hospital on May 8 and entered the concussion protocol on May 9, and once he clears that, he'll begin light activity. He is taking his recovery day by day. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 17. (Last updated: June 7)
LHP Angel Zerpa (left shoulder tendinopathy)
Expected return: June/July
Zerpa was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15 after the shoulder injury he entered camp with hadn’t improved. He was shut down from throwing completely to let the shoulder rest but has been throwing throughout the early part of the season. He had progressed to live bullpen sessions, facing hitters, by the beginning of June, so he continues to make progress. (Last updated: June 2)
LHP Jake Brentz (left elbow surgery recovery)
Expected return: September
Fresh off a two-year deal with the Royals, Brentz was placed on the 60-day IL on March 30 to make room on the 40-man roster. He will continue his rehab in Kansas City after he underwent Tommy John surgery last July. Brentz, 28, has progressed to bullpen sessions at Kauffman Stadium and will throw several more over the next month, hoping to start facing hitters by mid-July. (Last updated: June 2)
LHP Kris Bubic (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Bubic opted for full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on April 21, after initially being placed on the 15-day injured list due to left forearm tightness he experienced during his start against Atlanta on April 15. Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery on April 25, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 3 to make room for Austin Cox on the 40-man roster. (Last updated: May 3)
CF Diego Hernandez (right shoulder dislocation)
Expected return: July
The Royals' No. 17 prospect suffered an unfortunate injury in his first Cactus League game on Feb. 25, when he made an awkward dive on a ball in center field and dislocated his right shoulder. Hernandez, 22, had surgery shortly after and he has been progressing on schedule. The good news was that the injury came on his non-throwing shoulder, so he's been able to keep that in shape. Hernandez is rehabbing in Arizona. (Last updated: April 10)