Royals recall Fuentes, option Gore to Double-A

KANSAS CITY -- When the Royals called up outfielder Reymond Fuentes on Friday and optioned Terrance Gore to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, the immediate question from fans was: Why not just call Fuentes up three days ago when Gore was promoted instead to replace the injured Alex Rios on the roster?

Royals general manager Dayton Moore explained that the club wanted a pinch-runner for the Minnesota series and then agreed to re-evaluate the situation for the next series.

"This series [manager] Ned [Yost] wanted a left-handed bat," Moore said.

Yost also said he preferred Fuentes' versatility.

"He's a guy who can play all three outfield positions," Yost said. "He will be in the mix."

Yost also indicated that the reason he was using right-handed-hitting Paulo Orlando in right field against A's right-hander Sonny Gray in Friday's series opener, as opposed to left-handed-hitting Jarrod Dyson, had nothing to do with Dyson.

"I just wanted to see Paulo tonight," Yost said.

Fuentes, the cousin of former Royal Carlos Beltran, was hitting .444 through six games at Triple-A Omaha. The 24-year-old Fuentes is ranked No. 20 among all Royals prospects.