The Royals will recall infielder Raúl Mondesí from AAA Omaha today, and Alex Gordon will be placed on paternity leave following Game 1, according to Kansas City Star reporter Rustin Dodd. Gordon is in the starting lineup for the first game of the doubleheader, hitting ninth, but will miss the next three games.
Mondesí began the year with the Royals, but seemed overmatched, hitting just .103/.167/.179 in 46 plate appearances with a 35% strikeout rate. He has performed well in Omaha however, hitting .324/.383/.554 with three home runs in 83 plate appearances. He has increased his walk rate to 8.4% in the minors and cut his strikeout rate to 22.9%.
The Royals also called up Jake Junis to start the first game of today’s doubleheader and designated reliever Al Alburquerque for assignment. Miguel Almonte will also be called up to serve as the “26th man” for the doubleheader against the Twins.
Mondesí’s promotion is likely temporary, especially with second baseman Whit Merrifield heating up lately. Merrifield is hitting .324/.375/.514 with two home runs in his last ten games. Merrifield could fill in left field for Gordon, along with Jorge Bonifacio. Billy Burns could have been an option to come up, but he just came off the disabled list for Omaha today. Paulo Orlando was placed on the disabled list this weekend with an injury for Omaha.