Royals designate left-hander Brian Flynn for assignment as part of bullpen shuffle

The Royals activated right-hander Jakob Junis from the paternity list on Friday as part of a series of moves that affected their bullpen.

The team also recalled left-hander Richard Lovelady from Triple-A Omaha, designated left-hander Brian Flynn for assignment and returned right-hander Jake Newberry to Omaha.

Junis was placed on the paternity list Tuesday to be with his wife, Brianne, for the birth of their third child, a son named Jett Boyd Junis, who was born Tuesday.

To make room on the active roster for Junis, who is scheduled to start Friday night’s game against the Indians at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals parted ways with Flynn.

“We’re starting to move some of these young guys up and just needed a spot,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It’s the time for (Lovelady) to come back.”

Flynn, who played at Wichita State, was acquired by the Royals after the 2014 season in a trade that sent Aaron Crow to the Marlins. Flynn made his debut with the Royals in 2016 and appeared in 96 games with a 4.41 ERA in his time with Kansas City.

In 11 games this season, Flynn, 29, had a 5.22 ERA, and struggled mightily over his last seven appearances. In that span, Flynn had a 7.32 ERA, and opponents were batting .354 against him. He also walked 12 and struck out 12 in 19 2/3 innings. That includes one spot start after the Royals traded Homer Bailey to the A’s.

Yost said if the Royals can’t trade Flynn or he’s not claimed by another team while on waivers, the team hopes he will agree to return to Triple-A Omaha.

Lovelady pitched in 16 games earlier this season for the Royals, compiling a 4.22 ERA. After returning to Omaha, Lovelady held opponents to a .236 batting average and allowed just one home run with 23 strikeouts in 20 innings. He had a 1.80 ERA and picked up four saves in that span.

“Cal (Eldred, the Royals’ pitching coach) said something a couple of weeks ago and it just makes sense to me. Guys ... have to get here and get beat around a little bit and get sent back down before they really understand what it takes to be successful up here,” Yost said.

“I think it was a good experience, he came up, got beat up a little bit, got fine at times, got sent back down and he’s been really lights out. He’s been throwing the ball really, really well. So it was time to get him back up here and resume his education, if you will, and his experience.”

Newberry had been recalled from Omaha to take Junis’ spot on the active roster this week, but he’s headed back to Triple-A Omaha. He retired one batter and walked one in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Indians in 14 innings.

This story was originally published July 26, 2019 at 3:32 PM.