ROYALS NOTEBOOK

Kendall takes first batting practice since surgery

By BOB DUTTON and TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

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Jason Kendall took a major step Monday in his recovery from right shoulder surgery.

Kendall took live batting practice on the field for the first time since his surgery last September, after he spent the last month hitting in the indoor batting cage.

“It’s a huge step,” Kendall said. “It’s a lot better than hitting in the cage.”

Kendall has dealt with occasional soreness in the shoulder over the last nine months. However, Kendall recently tore adhesions — or scar tissue — in the shoulder, which has strengthened it significantly.

“It took his rehab to a different level,” Yost said. Now, his throwing is much freer. His arm feels much better, much stronger and much looser.”

Yost said Kendall, who is currently throwing as far as 105 feet in his long-toss sessions, will work his way to 120 feet. Provided that goes off without a hitch, Kendall should be ready to head out on a rehab assignment by the end of the month.

“It’s very possible,” Yost said. “For the first time, since the surgery, he’s making real progress in terms of getting back to playing.”

But when asked about the timetable, Kendall — who has been itching to play for weeks — said he didn’t want to jinx it. For a man who once bandied about thoughts of catching all 162 games a season, this nine-month rehab has been difficult, to say the least.

“Nothing (I’ve been through in my career) compares to this,” Kendall said.

Mazzaro returns

The Royals plan to recall right-handed pitcher Vin Mazzaro from Class AAA Omaha in time to start Tuesday's game against Toronto at Kauffman Stadium.

It will be Mazzaro's first big-league appearance since he allowed 14 runs in a 2 1/3-inning relief appearance May 16 in a 19-1 loss to Cleveland. He was optioned to Omaha after the game.

“He's gone back and three straight quality starts (at Omaha),” manager Ned Yost said, “and we need to give him an opportunity. We need to give him a chance. We need to give him a look under more fair circumstances than he got last time.”

The Royals did not announce a corresponding move to clear space for Mazzaro, but they seem likely to option reliever Jesse Chavez to Omaha. Chavez, 27, arrived last Friday and allowed two runs Sunday while pitching the ninth inning against Minnesota.

The need for a starter Tuesday stems from an injury to Sean O'Sullivan, who was placed on the disabled list last Friday because of tendinitis in his right biceps.

Mazzaro, 24, opened the season at Omaha before an injury to left-hander Bruce Chen prompted a May 11 recall. He started that night at Yankee Stadium but lasted just four innings and got a no-decision in a 4-3 victory in 11 innings.

The relief outing against Cleveland was Mazzaro's only other appearance before returning to Omaha. Yost said plans call for Mazzaro to get at least “a couple of starts” to provide a better evaluation period.

The Royals acquired Mazzaro with minor-league pitcher Justin Marks in a Nov. 10, 2010 trade with Oakland for outfielder David DeJesus. Mazzaro was 10-17 with a 4.72 ERA in 41 games, including 35 starts, for the A's in 2009-10.

Scoring change

A recent scoring change by the Elias Sports Bureau has come at the expense of Royals starter Jeff Francis. After reviewing the tape of Sunday’s game, the bureau rescinded a throwing error by first baseman Eric Hosmer in the first inning, when he fielded a sacrifice bunt by Minnesota’s Alexi Casilla and tried to throw the lead runner out at second. The throw dribbled into centerfield, and the Twins went on to score three runs — all unearned — against Francis in the inning.

Elias, however, said the rules state that in reconstructing the inning, since no play was ever made on Casilla, there can’t be an assumption he would have been retired, thus all runs become earned…and charged to Francis, who now sports a 4.19 ERA.

“I’m not gonna say anything about that,” Francis said. “It’s part of the game.

“Can I understand why the made the change? Sure,” he continued. “But I’m not gonna be upset and disappointed about it.”

Etc.

Shortly after the first inning, the Royals displayed a video clip of MLB commissioner Bud Selig announcing the club’s selection of Gardner-Edgerton standout Bubba Starling with the five overall pick in the Monday’s MLB Draft.

The selection received polite applause from the crowd.

To reach Bob Dutton, call 816-234-4352 or send email to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his news updates at Royals_Report@twitter.com. To reach Terez A. Paylor, call 816-234-5915 or send email to tpaylor@kcstar.com.