Outfielder Alex Rios, rehabbing in Omaha, is nearing return to Royals

The Royals will evaluate outfielder Alex Rios on Thursday and determine if he should rejoin the team on Friday at Wrigley Field. Rios was scheduled to play his third rehabilitation game for Class AAA Omaha on Wednesday after going one for nine in his first two.

“I was hoping 20 at-bats and he’d be feeling pretty good,” manager Ned Yost said before his team’s 4-2 loss to the Yankees, indicating the team's decision makers would huddle up about the situation after these next two days.

Rios has not played for the big-league club since April 13, when a stray fastball broke a bone in his left hand. The Royals are in need of offense after scoring five runs in their past four games, but Yost understands Rios may require time to regain his footing against high-level competition.

When Rios returns, the team will need to make room on their roster. They are considered more likely to option Paulo Orlando to Omaha, rather than designate Jarrod Dyson for assignment. Orlando has outplayed Dyson thus far, but he has minor-league options, and the club likely does not want to risk losing Dyson on waivers.

This story was originally published May 27, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Outfielder Alex Rios, rehabbing in Omaha, is nearing return to Royals."