KANSAS CITY, MO (November 20, 2019) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have selected left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin, right-handed pitcher Carlos Hernandez, shortstop Jeison Guzman and outfielder Nick Heath, adding all four to the 40-man roster ahead of today’s reserve list deadline. In corresponding moves, the Club has designated right-handed pitchers Conner Greene and Arnaldo Hernandez, catcher Nick Dini and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio for assignment.

Griffin, 24, was KC’s first-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He was named a Postseason All-Star in the Pacific Coast League (AAA) in 2019, going 8-6 with a 5.23 ERA (76 ER in 130.2 IP) in 25 starts with Omaha. 

Guzman, 21, was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 3, 2015, out of Santo Domingo, D.R. He was named the 2019 Lexington (A) Player of the Year, batting .253 (114-for-450) with 23 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 51 runs scored in 121 games. The left-handed hitter helped the Legends win their second-straight South Atlantic League championship.

Heath, 25, was KC’s 16th-round selection in 2016, after playing collegiately at Northwestern State University (LA). In 2019, he led all minor league players with 60 stolen bases combined between Omaha and Northwest Arkansas (AA). The left-handed hitter also tied for sixth in the Texas League with seven triples, while his eight triples overall tied for second most among Royals’ farmhands.

Carlos Hernandez, 22, was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 19, 2017, out of San Felix, Venezuela. He finished this season with Lexington, going 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA (14 ER in 36.0 IP) in seven starts, helping the Legends capture their second-straight South Atlantic League title, after stints with Burlington (Rookie) and Surprise (Rookie) earlier in the year.

Following today’s transactions, the Royals have 40 players on their 40-man roster.