Latest news with #HunterRenfroe
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royals to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone to boost struggling offense
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on February 21, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) The Royals are hoping Jac Caglianone can boost their moribund offense. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Kansas City is calling up its top prospect after a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The Royals are 31-29 despite having one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Royals have scored just 194 runs through 60 games this season. Only the the Colorado Rockies — a team on pace to be historically terrible — have scores fewer runs. Advertisement Caglianone has mashed since he was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Florida. Across AA and AAA this year, he's hitting .323 with an OPS of .991. Caglianone has also hit 15 HRs and driven in 56 runs across 49 minor league games this season. Even if he's an immediate impact bat for the lineup, there could be some growing pains in the outfield. After pitching and playing first base for the Gators, Caglianone has shifted to the outfield and is still learning the corner positions. The Royals are an organization that puts a premium on outfield defense. But they also need outfielders that can hit. Kansas City's outfielders have struggled over the past two seasons and Hunter Renfroe was recently designated for assignment after posting a .483 OPS over 35 games. Drew Waters has been the team's best outfielder so far this season and he's posted just a .703 OPS over 43 games. Despite the offensive struggles, the Royals are just two games out of second in the American League Central thanks to a pitching staff that's been one of the best in baseball. Kansas City made the playoffs a season ago and beat the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round before losing to the New York Yankees in the Divisional Series.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Royals designate Hunter Renfroe for assignment
The Royals announced they have designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment and have called up infielder Nick Loftin from Triple-A Omaha. Renfroe was hitting just .182/.241/.242 with no home runs in 35 games and was worth -1.5 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. The Royals originally signed Renfroe to a two-year, $13 million deal before the 2024 season. He has enjoyed five 25+ home run seasons in his career, and the Royals were hoping he could provide power in the middle of the lineup. Although his offensive numbers were declining, he was coming off a 20-home run season when the Royals signed him. Advertisement But he struggled in 2024, hitting .229/.297/.392 with 15 home runs, the lowest total in a full season in his career. This year his power seemed zapped, and he had just six extra-base hits in 108 plate appearances. Even worse, he was a defensive liability and his plus arm had deteriorated. The Royals have seven days to trade Renfroe, or place him on waivers, although with $7.5 million owed him this year, it seems unlikely anyone would take him. The Royals will be obligated to pay his remaining salary minus the minimum wage should any team pick him up after clearing waivers. The Royals cut ties with struggling reliever Chris Stratton earlier this week. Loftin is a former first-round pick who has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Royals, hitting .229/.307/.295 in 75 games. He was hitting .295/.451/.468 with four home runs in 40 games for Triple-A Omaha and his 39 walks are the fourth-most in all minor leagues. More from
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Royals designate OF Hunter Renfroe for assignment
May 23 - The Kansas City Royals designated veteran right fielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment on Friday. Renfroe, 33, is batting .182 with zero home runs and four RBIs in 35 games this season. Renfroe is a career .236 hitter with 192 homers and 510 RBIs in 996 games with seven teams in 10 seasons. He set career highs with 33 homers for the San Diego Padres in 2019 and 96 RBIs for the Boston Red Sox in 2021. Renfroe signed a two-year, $13 million contract with Kansas City in December 2023. The Royals recalled infielder Nick Loftin, 26, from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding transaction. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Waters' pinch-hit triple in the 7th inning sparks Royals to 2-1 victory over Cardinals
Kansas City Royals outfielders Drew Waters, left, Kyle Isbel, center, and Hunter Renfroe celebrate after their baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez is doused by teammates after their baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters (8) celebrates on third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives to third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives to third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals outfielders Drew Waters, left, Kyle Isbel, center, and Hunter Renfroe celebrate after their baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez is doused by teammates after their baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters (8) celebrates on third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives to third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Drew Waters led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit triple, Maikel Garcia drove him in with a single and the Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game skid and avoided a series sweep with a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. With the game tied at 1, Waters batted in place of Dairon Blanco and tripled to right field on the first pitch from reliever Chris Roycroft (1-3). Garcia hit Roycroft's second pitch to right to score Waters with the go-ahead run. Advertisement Lucas Erceg (1-0) got five outs for the win and Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth and worked around a double by Brendan Donovan for his 13th save in 15 opportunities. Kansas City's Michael Wacha started against his former team and allowed one run and eight hits in five innings with six strikeouts and no walks. The Royals have scored two runs or less with Wacha on the mound in nine of his 10 starts. Alec Burleson put the Cardinals up 1-0 in the fourth with his fourth homer of the season. The Royals then tied it against Matthew Liberatore when Hunter Renfroe led off the bottom half of the fourth with a double and scored on a two-out double by Blanco in his first game of the season. Advertisement Liberatore allowed one run and six hits in six innings. He has gone at least six innings in seven of nine starts. Donovan went 4 for 5 with his 15th double for St. Louis, which had won three straight and 12 of 13. Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals after entering in a 1-for-21 slump. Key moment The first two pitches thrown by Roycroft proved to be the difference. Key stat The Cardinals are 50-27 all time at Kaufmann Stadium and 31-30 at home in the series. Up next Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 4.50) starts Monday to begin a six-game homestand with three against Detroit. Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (4-2, 1.66) starts Monday in the first of three against San Francisco to begin a six-game trip. ___ AP MLB:
