Royals release pitcher Brad Penny after he breaks non-throwing hand

After a dismal outing on Thursday afternoon, one compounded by his actions afterward, Brad Penny received his release from the Royals on Friday morning.

Facing the White Sox, Penny yielded four runs in two innings, which pushed his Cactus League total to seven runs allowed in four frames. After the game, he injured his non-throwing hand punching a wall, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

“He’d come in and worked his tail off,” manager Ned Yost said. “But with the way some of these young guys were throwing, there’s just not a spot on the major-league club for him.”

The Royals freed Penny, a former two-time All Star, to give him an opportunity to catch on with another club. At 35, he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2012.

This story was originally published March 7, 2014 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Royals release pitcher Brad Penny after he breaks non-throwing hand."