Jesse Hahn lands on Injured List

The Royals placed reliever Jesse Hahn on the 10-day Injured List today with right shoulder impingement syndrome, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Right-hander Jake Newberry was promoted to replace him on the roster.

Hahn was nearly unhittable in 17 ¹⁄₃ innings in 2020, allowing just four hits, and none against left-handers. But he had struggled early in this season, giving up five runs in 3 ¹⁄₃ innings with four walks and two home runs allowed. He continued to struggle on Sunday against the White Sox, coughing up a lead by allowing two walks and a home run to the only three batters he faced.

Shoulder impingement is described as the “result of a vicious cycle of rubbing of the rotator cuff between your humerus and top outer edge of your shoulder.” It can be treated through anti-inflammatories and rest, but can also lead to surgery. Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley missed about three weeks with a shoulder impingement in 2019, while then-Twins prospect Brusdar Graterol missed two months that summer.

Hahn has a history of injuries, dating back to his days as an amateur, when he had Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2018 season after the Royals acquired him after discomfort with his UCL, although he avoided having a second Tommy John surgery. In four years with the Royals, he has pitched just 25 ¹⁄₃ innings. He will be a free agent after this season.

Jake Newberry was one of the last cuts in camp and has spent parts of the last three seasons pitching for the Royals. The 26-year old right-handed reliever has had a 4.07 ERA in 66 1⁄3 innings at the big league level. He has increased his strikeout rates in each of the last three seasons, but has had trouble keeping down walks. He had a 3.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 3 walks in 10 1⁄3 innings in spring training.