All articles tagged with #kansas city royals
Michael Wacha pitched seven strong innings of one-run baseball to lift the Royals to an eighth straight win, with Salvador Perez’s 17th homer and timely support from teammates including Jac Caglianone. Craig Kimbrel earned the save, and the piece also notes updates on the Royals’ 2026 draftees, including Zion Rose’s first pro home run.
The Royals’ lineup returns to balance with the returns of Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel García, fueling a win and proving the management’s envisioned depth when the lineup is fully together. Separately, Lucas Erceg’s pitching arsenal is analyzed as he works to rebound in 2027. Off the field, KC releases new stadium renderings ahead of a pivotal city council committee meeting where a protester was removed, as debate over a roughly $1.9B downtown ballpark—largely funded by taxpayers—intensifies, with critics warning the public cost could soar and votes could be delayed, underscoring how stadium politics are eclipsing on-field news.
The Kansas City Royals designated Starling Marte for assignment after reinstating Vinny Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia from the injured list and recalling Connor Thomas, with Marte’s spot opening due to underperformance (.242/.298/.314 this year, 71 wRC+) on a one-year deal that included $1M salary and up to $2M in bonuses. Marte will be placed on waivers; if unclaimed he could become a free agent, while the Royals still owe the remaining salary and any bonuses would die on release. Any club that claims him would only owe a prorated league minimum salary.
In Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs open a series against the Royals with Kevin Gausman making his Cubs debut as the starter. The Cubs’ lineup features Pete Crow-Armstrong in CF, Seiya Suzuki in RF, Alex Bregman at 3B, Michael Busch at 1B, Nico Hoerner at 2B, Ian Happ in left, Carson Kelly behind the plate, Pedro Ramirez at DH (batting eighth), and Dansby Swanson at SS. The Royals counter with Daniel Lynch IV returning to the rotation, with a likely shorter outing given his recent role switch. The Cubs hope to carry momentum into this interleague matchup against a Royals club led by Danny Jansen, Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, Salvador Perez, and others.
Kansas City traded lefty Kris Bubic to the Dodgers for reliever Carlos Duran, hoping the 25-year-old can bolster a Royals bullpen while Bubic remains on the 60-day IL with unclear return timing. The piece notes Duran’s strong K/9 in the minors but higher BBs and limited major-league exposure, and mentions prior rumors of a different deal (Ward or Grayson Rodriguez) in discussion. If Duran can become a reliable reliever, the trade could be a win for Kansas City despite Bubic’s injury-plagued value.
The Atlanta Braves acquired Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor-league pitchers Carter Holton and Lucas Braun. Thomas provides a left-handed bat for the corner outfield and is expected to help in lefty-heavy matchups, likely sharing duties with Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski. Falter adds pitching depth to Atlanta’s roster as the team navigates the trade deadline.
Kody Clemens delivered the first-ever ultimate grand slam on an 0-2 count in the bottom of the ninth, turning a three-run deficit into a 4-3 Twins win over the Royals and adding a new, highly specific milestone to the lore of the “ultimate grand slam.” The moment came as Kansas City’s bullpen struggles loomed large, and Clemens— Roger Clemens’ son—called it the stuff of childhood dreams, tying the feat to a broader, increasingly debated definition of the most improbable grand slam in baseball history.
Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the Injured List with lower back tightness, prompting the recall of infielder Andrew Velázquez and moving pitcher Stephen Kolek to the 60-day IL. Witt had been an MVP-caliber performer this season (.279/.350/.450 with 13 homers and 30 steals) and recently made his first All-Star appearance, while Velázquez provides depth and Kolek’s forearm tightness will be evaluated with a second opinion.
To bolster pitching depth, the Royals acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Astros in exchange for minor league pitcher Max Martin, and designated Kameron Misner for assignment to clear roster space. Pearson, 29, has MLB experience with the Blue Jays, Cubs and Astros, featuring a 98 mph four-seam fastball with a slider, curve and sinker; he appeared in 16 relief appearances in 2024 with a 3.60 ERA, 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 innings. Martin, a 22-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.01 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 40.1 innings across Low-A/High-A. Misner, who had been with Kansas City, hit .220/.256/.244 in 18 games this season.
Royals place star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. on the 10-day injured list with lower back tightness and promote infielder Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha to take his roster spot, while pitcher Stephen Kolek moves from a 15-day to 60-day IL with a flexor strain, likely ending his season. Kansas City, at 42-60, will lean on a shortstop committee (Tolbert, Loftin, Rojas, Velazquez) as Witt’s absence threatens his MVP-case credibility, despite a strong .279/.350/.450 line with 13 homers and 30 steals this season. Kolek’s injury further thins a Royals rotation, and Velazquez provides defense-first depth while the club contends with the approaching trade deadline.
San Francisco squandered late chances and a pivotal seventh-inning decision to leave a right-handed hitter in against a left-handed reliever, costing them a 3-2 loss to Kansas City and underscoring the Giants’ ongoing season-long struggles.
The Kansas City Royals selected Zion Rose, a 6'1", 200-pound Louisville outfielder, with the No. 6 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, betting on his powerful bat, speed, and defensive versatility. After an injury delayed his junior year, Rose slashed .417/.491/.646 with six homers in 173 plate appearances, and scouting notes from The Athletic, MLB.com, and Fangraphs highlight plus bat velocity, strong contact skills, and a path to center field or a solid left field profile. Rankings had him between 17th and 30th, suggesting underslot signing with the Royals also holding the 30th pick to target an overslot addition.
Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers returns from a hamate fracture in time to fuel trade-deadline chatter, carrying a strong first stretch and becoming one of the market’s hottest catchers; Minnesota hints at a more aggressive path as they sit a game out of the final Wild Card. Luke Keaschall is getting center-field reps while Byron Buxton heals; Tigers reliever Will Vest has an elbow stress fracture but is not facing surgery and is expected to pitch again this year, having been a key part of Detroit’s bullpen with a career-high 23 saves last season. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino returns from a hamate injury but is having his worst offensive season (81 wRC+ in 68 games) as he works back into the lineup.
Royals outfielder Tyler Tolbert tied MLB’s 124-year record by recording hits in 12 straight plate appearances, finishing 5-for-6 with two home runs in Kansas City’s 16-12 win over the Mets at Citi Field; the streak included a fifth-inning infield single and ended on a ninth-inning flyout, matching a mark first set in 1902 and later tied by several players. Tolbert’s bat from the streak will be sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Royals drop their fourth straight, 2-1 to the White Sox, in a chaotic game defined by misplays on offense and baserunning, despite Michael Wacha enduring 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball; a late run-scoring single after a fielding miscue sealed Chicago's win.