Kansas City’s infield picture got a little clearer this week, even if Maikel Garcia still has a stretch of waiting ahead.
The Royals third baseman got a cortisone injection after meeting with a hand specialist, a move aimed at settling down the left-hand issue that has kept him out since June 23. Garcia, 26, had recently come back from a rehab assignment, but the discomfort returned when he swung the bat.
That’s been the problem all along. The injury shows up at the plate, especially on awkward swings or when he fouls a ball off, when he feels a stinging sensation.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said the specialists identified a more precise spot to target.
“They found, you know, a similar area that had kind of not resolved yet,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They found a more specific, smaller area that they were able to give him a cortisone injection, which we think will calm it down.”
The next step is a complete shutdown for a few days. Garcia is expected to have no activity for 4 to 5 days, then begin building back up.
“He’ll ramp back up for another five days or so and hopefully, he’ll be able to, if everything goes smoothly, be able to get back into games,” Quatraro said.
Garcia has played in 69 games this season and is batting .261 with three homers and 30 RBIs in 268 at-bats. Since he went down, the Royals have gone 13-21 and have filled third base with Nick Loftin and Josh Rojas.
Garcia has already described how unpredictable the injury felt. He first noticed the discomfort against the St. Louis Cardinals in May at Busch Stadium, then kept playing until he was eventually shut down.
“Honestly, it’s weird because they don’t have like a definite time to get better because it’s a muscle there,” Garcia said at the time of the injury. “I can take two weeks, then get back into a game and my first swing can hurt.”
For now, the hope is that the injection gives him some relief and gets him moving back toward games. Garcia is one of 12 Royals players on the injured list.
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