LATEST NEWS

Aug. 29: RHP Steven Cruz selected from Triple-A Omaha; LHP Taylor Hearn optioned to Triple-A
The Royals will use the final month of the season to get a look at some of their relievers and other players they have in Triple-A, and Cruz is first on that list. One of the pitchers the Royals got in the Michael A. Taylor trade with the Twins last offseason, Cruz has improved some of the command issues that hurt him in Minnesota's system. The 24-year-old has a 3.81 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A this year, and 11 of his 13 runs he's allowed in Omaha have come in two outings. Cruz has a 30.6% strikeout rate and 13.9% walk rate in Omaha, and the reports have been good about his stuff, which includes a fastball in the upper-90s, a hard slider and a new cutter.

"Attacking the zone, for sure," Cruz said through interpreter Luis Perez. "And the cutter has worked well. ... You learn to trust your pitches. If the catcher is set up down the middle, you've got to trust that you have good pitches and just go out there and compete."

Cruz's power arm and 6-foot-7 presence will slot into a Royals bullpen that still has roles up for grabs. He will be the sixth Royal to make his Major League debut this season.

"He's a guy that we really want to see, somebody that we know has a really high upside," manager Matt Quatraro said. "And somebody who has earned his way to keep graduating levels."

• All Royals transactions

INJURY UPDATES

7-day, 10-day and 15-day IL

1B Nick Pratto (left groin strain)
Expected return: Early-to-mid September
Pratto felt a pull in his groin while stretching out for a throw at first base while the Royals were in Cleveland in late July, and he was placed on the IL retroactive to July 27. The first baseman is also dealing with left hip impingement syndrome. Pratto began a rehab assignment on Aug. 17, but was returned on Aug. 25 because of a minor setback. The Royals expect Pratto to go back on a rehab assignment by the end of the week of Aug. 28. (Last updated: Aug. 28)

LHP Daniel Lynch IV (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late September
Lynch experienced left arm fatigue in his final two starts before hitting the IL on July 19 with a left shoulder strain, then had a setback on July 25 that required a cortisone shot to help inflammation. A month later, the 26-year-old is back to throwing and will toss his second bullpen session on Aug. 29 at Kauffman Stadium. If that goes well, he'll progress to live BP, followed by a rehab assignment. (Last updated: Aug. 28)

60-day IL

LHP Jake Brentz (left elbow surgery, left lat strain)
Expected return: 2024
Brentz has been on the 60-day IL all season rehabbing his elbow after Tommy John surgery last season. He began a rehab assignment in mid-August and was hoping to be back with Kansas City by September, but his season ended prematurely when he suffered a lat strain during one of his appearances in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He was returned from his rehab assignment on Aug. 25. Once Brentz recovers from the strain, he's expected to have a normal offseason and be ready for Spring Training 2024. (Last updated: Aug. 25)

RHP Brad Keller (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: Late September
Keller began his rehab assignment with the Royals' Arizona Complex League on Aug. 14 and was transferred to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 20. This is the right-hander's second rehab assignment this season; he was returned from the first one at the end of July after he faced a setback with his right shoulder injury. Keller, an impending free agent, has been on the IL since May and was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 16. (Last updated: Aug. 21)

RHP Josh Staumont (TOS surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Staumont was placed on the IL on June 7, retroactive to June 6, with a neck strain. But he faced a setback during his recovery, and after more tests, it was determined he would need surgery in early August for thoracic outlet syndrome. That will likely end Staumont's season after he threw just 20 innings in 2023. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 15. (Last updated: July 15)

LHP Josh Taylor (back surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Taylor underwent surgery on June 27 to repair a herniated disk in his lumbar spine (lower back), a setback he experienced while recovering from left shoulder impingement syndrome. That initial injury has had him on the IL since May 28.

Now Taylor, the reliever the Royals acquired for Adalberto Mondesi (who hasn't played a game this season) from the Red Sox this past offseason, will likely be out the remainder of the 2023 season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 3. (Last updated: July 3)

1B Vinnie Pasquantino (right shoulder surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Pasquantino is unlikely to return this season as a result of surgery he underwent to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Shoulder instability is something Pasquantino has dealt with before, but the 25-year-old felt the injury return on June 9 against the Orioles.

An MRI exam determined this latest flareup was too severe to manage, and Pasquantino opted for surgery to fully put the injury -- which is on his non-throwing shoulder but lead hitting shoulder -- behind him. Barring an unexpected late-season return, the second-year slugger will end 2023 with a .247/.324/.437 slash line, nine homers and 26 RBIs in 61 games.

Pasquantino was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 18 and he had the surgery on June 21, beginning the recovery process. (Last updated: June 21)

LHP Kris Bubic (left elbow 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.

Bubic 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)

• More injury news