HOUSTON -- The Royals reinstated first baseman Lucas Duda from the disabled list on Saturday and optioned struggling outfielder Paulo Orlando to Triple-A Omaha.
Duda went 1-for-4 with a single before leaving for a pinch-runner in the ninth in the Royals' 4-3 loss in 12 innings to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Duda, recovering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, played in four games during a rehab assignment with Omaha and he hit .313 with two home runs. He was the DH for all four games.
Orlando hit just .177 in 22 games with the Royals.
What Duda's return means for Hunter Dozier's playing time and position has yet to be determined, manager Ned Yost said before Saturday's game. Dozier, presumably part of the team's future, has played in 29 games at first base, where he is being converted to and where he may play in the future. He hit a three-run homer off Lance McCullers in the fourth inning.

"How am I going to know how I'll play [Duda]?" Yost said. "I haven't seen him move around yet. ... I have to know can he go first to third? Can he leg out a double? Does he go base to base? Do I need to pinch-run for him? ... He will DH right now.
"I'm going to play Dozier. If Duda is playing first, Dozier is probably going to play some right field and DH. ... [A plan] hasn't been devised yet."
Yost did allow that he has liked what he has seen defensively from Dozier at first base.
"He's gotten better," Yost said. "It's becoming more natural to him. Our infielders have done a good job -- [former first baseman Eric Hosmer] used to have to pick like two [throws] a game. But I don't think Dozier has had to pick three or so balls altogether."
Duda said he should be full-go in terms of health.
"I'm here and I should be healthy and productive," Duda said.