According to Paul Boyd of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Royals left-handed pitcher Mike Minor has been added to the roster of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to begin his rehab assignment, and will make his first start tonight against Arkansas. Minor is recovering from labrum surgery from last May. The Royals signed Minor to a two-year contract this past off-season, paying him $2 million plus bonuses in 2016.
Minor can be on rehab assignment for up to 30 days, so he will get a maximum of six starts in the minor leagues. The Royals can call him up at any time. Minor is currently on the 60-day disabled list, so he would need to be added to the 40-man roster to be placed on the active roster.
The 28-year old Tennessee native has a 4.10 ERA in 111 career Major League games, all with the Atlanta Braves. His best year came in 2013 when he was 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA, 8.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings and 3.5 fWAR. He missed the entire 2015 season with his labrum injury. Minor throws a fastball in the low 90s, with a slider, knuckle-curve, and changeup, although Jeffrey Flanagan reported that Minor was hitting 95 mph in his workout sessions.
#Royals GM Dayton Moore on Mike Minor: "We hope to have him in the rotation by the end of May first part of June" #FantasyBaseball
— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) May 10, 2016