The Royals are giving this former top prospect another major-league opportunity
The Kansas City Royals are giving talented outfielder Drew Waters another opportunity.
Waters was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday when veteran offseason acquisition Mark Canha was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left abductor in his hip.
Canha was injured during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. He collided with an outfield wall in the fifth inning as he attempted to make a leaping catch in left field.
Canha said he immediately felt discomfort in his left hip. He was removed from the game the next inning.
“I knew it was kind of a shaky situation when I got up from that play,” Canha said. “Just running into the wall, I kind of jarred my hip a little bit. The joint is a little angry right now and a little sore.”
He said he will be receiving treatment and allowing the injury to heal.
“I’ve had hip issues in the past,” he said. “I just know it’s best to get the treatment necessary so that I can come back and can be myself and not try to play through something and aggravate it.”
Waters, 26, has gotten off to a hot start at Triple-A Omaha this year. He was hitting .370 with the Storm Chasers at the time of his call-up, with two home runs and seven RBIs. He has a 1.210 OPS (on-base plus slugging) and recently hit for the cycle in Class AAA.
Waters has had multiple opportunities to stick at the big-league level. But his stay in the big leagues has been brief each time. He said those quick transitions taught him valuable lessons about patience.
The Royals still believe in Waters’ potential as a prospect. He offers defensive versatility and can play all three outfield spots.
He also spent the offseason working to improve his swing decisions from both sides of the plate.
“I feel like I’m doing a good job of swinging at pitches in (the strike) zone,” he said. “I feel like, at times, I would get myself into trouble (in the past by) swinging at pitches out of the zone.”
He knows he will be relied upon to deliver in key moments during his current call-up. And he’s hoping he can perform at a high enough level this time that he can stick around.
Such calls don’t arrive every day.
“When there is an opportunity at the big-league level,” he said, “hopefully you are the guy that gets to have it.”
KC manager Matt Quatraro said Waters could be used defensively or as a pinch-runner late in games. And Waters’ capabilities as a switch-hitter should afford him still more chances to contribute.
“Drew’s got off to a great start,” Quatraro said. “We think the world of him as a person and a teammate.
“He is going to have an opportunity to play at times and take advantage of it. He’s got a ton of talent and ... he is somebody we hope is a big part of the future.”
