Why Royals’ options skew left with Jonathan India headed to MLB’s injured list
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals placed Jonathan India on 10-day injured list with left-wrist sprain
- Lefties Frazier and Massey expected to platoon at second base in India’s absence
- Manager Quatraro faces right-left lineup balance challenge amid September call-ups
The Kansas City Royals will look a little different on Tuesday night.
Ahead of their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals made a slew of roster moves tied to their September call-ups.
KC native Carter Jensen will make his MLB debut at home, for instance, and Jac Caglianone and Luinder Avila will return to the Royals.
But there’s a particular move that could affect the Royals in more ways than one.
They also placed second baseman Jonathan India on the 10-day injured list Monday. India is dealing with a left-wrist sprain, an injury that kept him out of Sunday’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium.
India has appeared in 124 games this season. He is hitting .232 with eight home runs, 41 RBIs and 27 doubles in 465 at-bats.
Now, the Royals are down a right-handed hitter. And that creates some intrigue: How will manager Matt Quatraro build out his lineup?
KC has multiple left-handed hitters on the roster. With India sidelined, the Royals are likely to use lefties Adam Frazier and Michael Massey at second base. Caglianone and Jensen also bat left-handed, as does veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski.
In terms of balance, the Royals have Nick Loftin, Randal Grichuk, Luke Maile and Tyler Tolbert available as right-handed bench options.
India offered a right-handed option in the middle of the order. His at-bats could be divided up in a variety of ways during his absence.
Here are some possible scenarios:
The Royals like to platoon Grichuk and Yastrzemski. This will likely continue even with Caglianone’s return. The question is whether Caglianone will return to his starting role in right field or be utilized more as a designated hitter.
As mentioned above, Frazier and Massey will likely be a tandem at second base. It will depend on the matchups, but there is a possibility that one will man the keystone position while the other plays left field or designated hitter, or doesn’t start.
Nick Loftin could also be in the mix. He can play across the diamond — including at second base — but he is one of those few right-handed pinch-hitting options late in games off the bench.
Tolbert has been a backup outfielder and is best used as a pinch-runner in critical situations. Grichuk and Maile, meanwhile, will likely be right-handed options to counteract tough lefty pitchers.
How the Royals deploy their lineup and defense will be interesting to watch. Quatraro likes to play matchups and now he will need to figure out how to balance a roster that skews left-handed.
