On Sunday morning, the Kansas City Royals made a significant roster move by designating left-handed pitcher Amir Garrett for assignment. This move came as a surprise to many, as Garrett had been with the team on a one-year, $2.65 million contract. In the 2023 season, Garrett had appeared in 24 1/3 innings and held a 3.33 ERA. However, his last outing against the Cleveland Guardians proved challenging, as he allowed back-to-back home runs to José Ramírez and Josh Naylor.
The designation for assignment of Garrett opened up a roster spot for Ryan Yarbrough, who was set to start in the first-half finale on Sunday. Yarbrough had recently returned from the injured list after suffering facial fractures when he was struck by a line drive at a velocity of 106 mph. His comeback to the mound was an inspiring moment for the Kansas City Royals.
Additionally, the Royals made another roster move by recalling infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor to replace Edward Olivares. Olivares experienced some mild back tightness upon arriving at Progressive Field on Saturday, leading to his placement on the injured list. In his 12 games with the Royals this season, Taylor had a batting average of .133 and contributed three RBIs.
These roster moves provided opportunities for new players to contribute to the team and adjusted the composition of the Royals’ lineup heading into their upcoming games.
