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The Royals placed infielder Alberto Callaspo on the disabled list for evaluation and treatment of an unspecified medical condition prior to Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium.
The club filled the roster vacancy by recalling first baseman/DH Billy Butler from Class AAA Omaha.
Callaspo, 25, spent several hours in jail early Friday after running a red light and being cited for driving under the influence. He was batting .290 this season in 42 games while primarily filling a reserve role.
“I think he (Callaspo) will be back at some point,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “He’s got a good attitude. You can’t have somebody who is going to do what he’s going to do without having a good attitude.”
Hillman said Butler will be used as the designated hitter the majority of the time when José Guillen is able to play in the outfield. Ross Gload will continue to start at first base.
Butler, 22, joined the club in time for Saturday’s game. He opened the season with the Royals but was optioned May 29 to Omaha after batting .263 with one homer and 18 RBIs in 53 games.
More on Butler
When Butler was sent to Omaha he immediately hit the ball well. For a while, Butler was hitting close to .400 before cooling off in the last few games. He wound up batting .337 in 26 games at Omaha with five homers and 13 RBIs.
“Down in Triple A, I was trying to work things out. I’m just trying to come back and help the team the best I can,” Butler said.
It was a humbling experience for Butler when he was sent down, but something he knew he could grow from.
“We are on a roll here and I don’t want to come in and be a distraction,” Butler said.
Sunday Bannister
Odds are pretty good that whenever the Royals play a Sunday afternoon game at Kauffman Stadium it’s a better than 50 percent chance that Brian Bannister will be pitching.
Bannister is starting today against Cardinals’ right-hander Braden Looper. It’s the third time in the last four Sunday home games that Bannister will start.
Bannister enjoys pitching during the day.
“I really feel comfortable in the morning. I’ve always been a morning person,” Bannister said. “I think the majority of baseball players prefer to sleep in, so it kind of works out in my favor.”
June has also been a pretty good time for Bannister.
Last year Bannister went 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA in June. He’s been almost as good this year, going 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA in five June starts.
“I came into this month wanting to stay ahead of the pace that I was on last year,” Bannister said. “It’s just a good time the way the offense is hitting the ball. Everybody is a little more confident going right after guys.”
Halfway point
Saturday’s game marked the halfway point in the season for the Royals — they are 37-44. Last year, Kansas City was 34-47 through 81 games.
“I know a lot of fans took it the wrong way. I didn’t mean to say ‘(expletive) the fans.’ Everybody just caught me at the wrong time. I should have said it in a different way.
“I’m sorry if I (offended) anybody, but that was in the heat of the moment.”
Guillen said he apologized to general manager Dayton Moore and, through him, to owner David Glass for his language before Friday’s game when asked about his failure to run hard on a grounder to third in Wednesday’s victory over the Colorado Rockies.
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