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Royals option Hochevar to Omaha
By BOB DUTTONThe Kansas City Star
TUCSON, Ariz. | Scratch right-hander Luke Hochevar as a candidate for the Royals’ rotation once the regular season starts a week from today in Detroit.
The Royals optioned Hochevar, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, to Class AAA Omaha before Sunday’s 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Tucson Electric Park.
“The bottom line,” manager Trey Hillman said, “is where he’s at right now and where we’re at right now, that’s the best thing for him and the best thing for us.”
The decision leaves the Royals with four candidates for the final two spots in their rotation: John Bale, Brett Tomko, Kyle Davies and Jorge De La Rosa.
Bale is viewed as a heavy favorite for the No. 4 slot behind Gil Meche, Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke. The Royals seemed to confirm Bale’s status by shifting him to a minor-league game today to get an extended look at De La Rosa against the Dodgers.
“We still have more evaluation time,” Hillman said, “but it is a key start for (De La Rosa), definitely.”
Tomko is scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against San Diego. Hillman said Davies will also pitch before the club breaks camp after Thursday’s game against the Rangers in Surprise.
De La Rosa has allowed nine runs and 11 hits in 8 1/3 innings over three appearances. That might normally push him to the back of the line were he not out of options. Club officials believe they would likely lose De La Rosa if forced to send him through waivers.
Davies does have an option remaining. He has allowed five runs and 10 hits in nine innings in three appearances but appears to be making progress in implementing a mechanical adjustment to his delivery.
Tomko is working on a guaranteed $3 million contract and, like Bale, will make the club as a reliever if he fails to land a spot in the rotation.
Hochevar, 24, will pitch as a starter at Omaha. He entered camp viewed primarily as a bullpen candidate but pitched his way into consideration for the big-league rotation.
“He could probably pitch up here right now,” pitching coach Bob McClure said. “But he still needs to work on repeating his delivery a little better. It’s probably better at this point that he go to Omaha as a starter.”
Hochevar allowed just two runs and seven hits in eight innings in three Cactus League appearances. He also pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a “B” game against the Rangers and four scoreless innings in a minor-league game.
“He had a great camp,” Hillman said, “and we told him that. He just simply stated that he’s going to continue to work as hard as he can to get to the major-league club as soon as he could.”