Slumping Royals DH Kendrys Morales gets a day to rest
One day after his batting average dipped to .191 following a 2-1 victory over the White Sox, Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales received a day to rest his body and mind.
Royals manager Ned Yost inserted Salvador Perez at designated hitter Sunday and gave a start to backup catcher Drew Butera in the series finale at U.S. Cellular Field. Yost cited the need for Morales to take a day to relax and breathe while still mired in a slump that has stretched on for weeks.
“It’s about just giving Kendrys a break,” Yost said. “He just needs a break. He’s played every game, and it’s more of a mental break than a physical break.”
Entering Sunday’s game, Morales had gone three for his last 24 and was batting just .151 during the month of May. One of those hits was a two-run, walk-off homer against the Atlanta Braves on May 15. Morales collected just two more hits the rest of the week. He pinch hit for Butera in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss, striking out against White Sox closer David Robertson.
The root causes of Morales’ struggles have been well documented. After 42 games, the switch-hitting Morales is batting just .138 from the left side. He has been foiled by a rash of defensive shifts and has struggled to handle an increased diet of off-speed pitches.
On Friday afternoon, in the hours before the series opener in Chicago, Yost was asked whether he’d considered using the flexibility of utility man Whit Merrifield as a way to rotate other starters into the designated hitter role. He stressed that the Royals were focused on getting Morales out of his funk.
“We got to get Kendrys going,” Yost said. “That’s what I’ve thought about. You’re talking about a Silver Slugger last year. I’m not talking about just some Joe Blow. We’ve got to get him going from the left side. He’s going good from the right side.”
Rustin Dodd: 816-234-4937, @rustindodd. Download True Blue, The Star’s Royals app.
This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Slumping Royals DH Kendrys Morales gets a day to rest."