Dillon Gee optioned to minors, Brett Eibner to disabled list

The Royals have optioned pitcher Dillon Gee to AAA Omaha and placed outfielder Brett Eibner on the 15-day disabled list with a left lateral ankle sprain after last night's game against Tampa Bay. Eibner appeared to injure the ankle fielding a Brad Miller hit off the wall, but it was a non-contact injury. The Royals have not revealed a timetable for his return, but Tigers catcher James McCann recently missed three weeks with an ankle sprain. Eibner appeared in just four games at the Major League level before getting hurt, hitting .462/.500/.692 with three doubles.

Gee had a 4.28 ERA in 40 innings with the Royals. He joined the rotation on May 14 to replace the ineffective Chris Young, and gave up four runs over 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts, but has given up ten runs on four home runs in nine innings over his last two starts. The 30-year old right-hander is earning a $2 million salary this season.

The move  means Chris Young will rejoin the rotation on Sunday in Cleveland. Young was activated from the disabled list on Thursday after missing time with a forearm injury and has worked out of the bullpen since. The 37-year old right-hander has a 5.94 ERA in 36 1/3 innings and is signed to a two-year, $11.5 million contract.

Peter Moylan rejoins the team after being demoted last week to make room for Young. He had a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings of relief. To replace Eibner on the roster, the Royals have recalled outfielder Reymond Fuentes. Fuentes made the team out of spring training and hit .238/.273/.238 in six games before being demoted. He injured his shoulder a week ago crashing into the wall for a catch, but was activated from the minor league disabled list recently.