Right-handed reliever Jeremy Jeffress rejoined the Royals prior to Tuesday’s game after being recalled earlier in the day from Class AA Northwest Arkansas, whose season ended Monday in a 7-4 loss to Tulsa.

It marks the third recall this season for Jeffress, who has not allowed an earned run in 62/3 innings over eight previous appearances despite surrendering eight hits and six walks.

The Royals now have 28 players on their active roster. Rules permit clubs to carry as many as 40 starting Sept. 1.

“It really helps to add another arm,” manager Ned Yost said. “Because of the rainout (last Friday) and the double-header (on Saturday), we’re using two of our long relievers in (tonight’s) game.”

Left-hander Everett Teaford is scheduled to start tonight against the Rangers with right-hander Vin Mazzaro available, if needed, for long relief. Teaford pitched 51/3 innings in relief of Luke Hochevar in last Saturday’s 8-7 loss to Minnesota.

Jeffress, 24, spent most of this season at Class AAA Omaha, where he was 5-4 with a 4.97 ERA in 37 games.

He was optioned Aug. 27 to Northwest Arkansas to enable him to return prior to the usual 10-day waiting period. He worked 11/3 scoreless innings in his only outing. Players are eligible to return as soon as their minor-league team’s season concludes.

Staff additions

Northwest Arkansas pitching coach Larry Carter is the latest interim replacement for bullpen coach Steve Foster, who shifted last Friday to a new role as special assistant to the general manager and minor-league pitching coordinator.

Carter arrived one day after the Naturals completed their season and is completing his 15th year with the organization. He replaced Bill Fischer, who served as bullpen coach for the previous four games. Fischer is the organization’s senior pitching advisor.

Omaha Doug Henry will split the duty with Carter once the Storm Chasers complete their season. Omaha opens defense of its Pacific Coast League title tonight in the start of a best-of-five series against Albuquerque.

The Royals also added Darryl Kennedy to their on-field staff under a rule that permits clubs to add one coach from Sept. 1 through the end of the season. Kennedy recently completed his third season as manager at Surprise in the Arizona Rookie League.

Minor collapse

Short-season Burlington (N.C.) suffered a crushing 10-6 loss in 12 innings Monday to Elizabethton (Tenn.) in the decisive third game of the Appalachian League championship series.

The Royals had a five-run lead with two outs in the ninth before Elizabethton, a Minnesota Twins affiliate, forced extra innings by scoring five times against John Walter. The Twins won on D.J. Hicks’ two-out grand slam in the 12th inning against Julio Morales.

“I got out there in the outfield in the bottom of the ninth,” center fielder Bubba Starling told the Burlington (N.C.) Times-News, “and I’m thinking that I never got this in high school (at Gardner-Edgerton), never won a championship.

“And how good it felt, so good and then…”

Starling, a first-round pick in 2011, went three for six with a homer in the loss. He finished his first pro season with 10 homers, 33 RBIs and a .275 average in 53 games. He also had a .371 on-base percentage and a .485 slugging percentage.

More minor playoffs

Omaha plans to start right-hander Jake Odorizzi against Albuquerque in the opening game tonight of its best-of-five series in the PCL playoffs.

Odorizzi, 22, is 15-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 games, including 11-3 and 2.93 in 19 games at Omaha following his promotion from Northwest Arkansas. Albuquerque, a Dodgers affiliate, lists Fernando Nieve as its starter.

The Storm Chasers are the defending PCL champions. The series continues Thursday at Omaha before shifting Friday to Albuquerque. The series continues, if necessary, Saturday and Sunday at Albuquerque.

•  Class A Wilmington (N.C.) opens the Carolina League playoffs tonight by playing host to Lynchburg (Va.), a Braves’ affiliate. The best-of-three playoff series continues Thursday in Lynchburg. A third game, if necessary, is Friday at Lynchburg.

Minor awards

The Royals announced the player- and pitcher-of-the year awards for August for their eight minor-league affiliates.

Class AAA Omaha: infielder Irving Falu and left-hander Ryan Verdugo.

Class AA Northwest Arkansas: outfielder Yem Prades and right-hander Ethan Hollingsworth.

Class A Wilmington: shortstop Orlando Calixte and right-hander Andy Ferguson.

Class A Kane County: shortstop Justin Trapp and right-hander Cody Fassold.

Short-season Idaho Falls: third baseman Diego Goris and right-hander Cory Hall.

Short-season Burlington: third baseman Mark Threlkeld and right-hander Christian Binfold.

Rookie Surprise: second baseman Ramon Torres and right-hander Ashton Goudeau.

Dominican Academy: infielder Wander Franco and right-hander Andres Machado.

Looking back

It was 44 years ago Wednesday — Sept. 5, 1968 — that the Royals launched their season-ticket sales drive for their inaugural season. First-day sales totaled 2,156.