The Royals are heading into their first road series of the second half without the man who usually sets the tone from the top.
Kansas City announced Thursday that manager Matt Quatraro is away from the club for personal reasons and will not be in Detroit for the four-game weekend set against the Tigers. The team said it expects him back soon, but did not provide a timeline.
While Quatraro is away, the Royals are shuffling the staff behind the scenes. Paul Hoover will handle managerial duties, Vance Wilson will step in as bench coach, and José Alguacil will move into Wilson’s third-base role until Quatraro returns.
Quatraro’s absence comes at a time when Kansas City is already navigating a stretched roster. Bobby Witt Jr. went on the injured list Wednesday with back tightness, and Jac Caglianone has been benched after hurting his shoulder in the outfield on Tuesday. Even with those hits, the Royals have kept rolling, going 5-1 since the All-Star break.
There is at least one encouraging sign on the injury front. Kyle Isbel has started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha after suffering a Grade 3 plantar fascia tear in early June, and his first two games have already shown the full range of what he can bring.
On Tuesday, Isbel went 1-for-2 and delivered a third-inning RBI triple in Omaha’s 9-8 win over the Salt Lake Bees. The next night was quieter, as he finished 0-for-3, though a walk kept the line from being a total zero at the plate.
That kind of swing in production has been part of Isbel’s profile with the Royals, too. He’s known first for his Gold Glove defense in center field, but his bat has had stretches where it looks dangerous. He posted a 126 wRC+ through April, then followed that with a 46 wRC+ in May and a 28 wRC+ in June before the injury.
Even so, getting Isbel back into the mix would matter for a team that has been battered by injuries all season. A mid-.200s batting average would be a useful addition, especially in the nine-hole.
Kansas City also added another piece on the minor league side Wednesday, signing infielder Alejo Lopez to a minor league contract and assigning him to Triple-A.
Lopez has not appeared in the majors since 2023 with the Reds. Over parts of three seasons in Cincinnati, he played in 76 games and hit .265/.309/.329 with one home run, 11 RBI and a 73 wRC+. Since then, he has spent time in the Braves’, Athletics’ and Mariners’ systems.
This year, Lopez put together a strong run in Triple-A with Seattle, batting .302/.379/.419 with a 109 wRC+. He joins the Royals after being released from the Mariners’ system on Monday, and he gives Kansas City some extra infield depth after Andrew Velazquez had to be promoted to the majors when Witt landed on the injured list.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Need To See This Bobby Witt Jr. Update
Salvador Perez has already tied George Brett with 317 career home runs as a Royal, so every trip to the plate now carries a little extra weight for Kansas City. At the same time, the Royals recent move to add Nate Pearson gives the bullpen another arm to sort through, while the organization continues to monitor the health of several players who matter to the roster picture.
The bigger concern for fans, though, is the latest injury picture around the lineup and infield, with Bobby Witt Jr. still part of the conversation as the club tries to keep its season on track. Add in the fact that Kendry Chourio, Josh Hammond and Angeibel Gomez showed up in the latest FanGraphs top 100, and there is plenty for Royals followers to track beyond the box score as the next wave of updates comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Make Another Outfield Move Fans Have Seen Before
Kameron Misner is on the move again, and this one sends a familiar name from Kansas Citys outfield pipeline to Philadelphia for cash considerations. The Phillies optioned Misner to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and cleared a 40-man roster spot by designating Steward Berroa for assignment, a straightforward transaction on paper but one that fits a broader pattern for a player the Royals have already cycled through once.
For Kansas City, the move is another reminder of how quickly outfield depth can turn over, especially with players in their final minor league option year. Misners time in the majors with the Royals was brief, and Berroa now enters a familiar roster squeeze of his own, with the possibility of staying in the organization if he clears waivers and is outrighted to Triple-A. [Read more 🡒]
Royals May Have Finally Found Their Outfield Answer In Brewers Trade
The Royals decision to bring in Isaac Collins and Nick Mears has started to look a lot more interesting as Collins keeps carving out a real role in Kansas Citys outfield mix. What began as a trade addition has turned into something closer to a lineup solution, with Collins giving the club a left-handed bat and a steadier presence in a spot that had been looking for answers.
For Milwaukee, the timing only sharpens the contrast. Right field has been the Brewers weakest position this season, and Collins recent surge has only made it easier to imagine how much he might have helped there. Kansas City, meanwhile, has reason to believe it may have landed not just a useful piece for now, but one it can keep building around for years to come. [Read more 🡒]