Kansas City Royals’ Edward Olivares taking steps toward return to the majors
Kansas City Royals outfielder Edward Olivares will take the first step towards a potential return to the majors when he suits up for a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday night.
Olivares, 26, has been on the injured list with a strained left quad since July 19 (retroactively on July 22). Olivares suffered the injury while running to first base during the final game of the club’s series in Toronto against the Blue Jays.
The Royals placed Olivares on the 60-day IL, and cannot activate him before Sept. 17. The Royals regular-season finale is on Oct. 5.
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said the final months of the season, following the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 2, will be used to evaluate many of the club’s young players with an eye towards this offseason and roster decisions heading into the 2023 season.
Olivares, acquired from the San Diego Padres in the 2020 trade that sent Trevor Rosenthal to the Padres, had been one of the best hitters in the Royals lineup this season before injuries interrupted his year. He missed 43 games earlier this season with a right quad strain.
In 36 games in the majors this season, Olivares batted .303 with a .358 on-base percentage, a .434 slugging percentage, three home runs and four doubles in 99 at-bats.
The Royals will have a bevy of potential outfield options to sort through with veteran Gold Glove-winning center fielder Michael A. Taylor under contract through next season, rookie catcher/outfielder MJ Melendez looking like a potential fixture in the lineup and recently promoted former Braves prospect Drew Waters now getting his first taste of the majors. Kyle Isbel, trade deadline acquisition Brent Rooker, outfielder/infielder Hunter Dozier and first baseman Nick Pratto have also played in the outfield.
Minor-league outfielders Nate Eaton, Brewer Hicklen and Dairon Blanco have also played in the majors at times this season, though Hicklen and Blanco are not currently on the club’s 40-man roster.
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 3:04 PM.
