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The Royals announced today they have returned right-handed reliever Jesse Hahn from his rehab assignment, but will not activate him, suggesting he has had a setback with his injury. (We previously reported he would be activated from the IL, but that is not the case).
Hahn was placed on the Injured List back on April 10 with right shoulder impingement. He had gotten off to a dreadful start, allowing five runs in 3 1⁄3 innings with two home runs and four walks to just three strikeouts. His fastball velocity had been down from last year, going from averaging 96 mph on his heater in 2020 to 94.2 mph this year.
Hahn had made three relief appearances in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, facing nine hitters and striking out two, walking one, and giving up one hit. He left his outing last night against Iowa after facing just one batter and walking him, leaving the mound with a trainer.
Well, that wasn't planned. Jesse Hahn's scheduled one-inning rehab start lasts only one batter. He exists with the trainer & reliever Mike Shawaryn finishes the first. Kyle Isbel's RBI groundout has us in a 1-1 tie with the I-Cubs after one.
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) May 19, 2021
Hahn began his rehab assignment on May 13. Pitchers can be on rehab assignment up to 30 days.
The 31-year old has had a very injury-filled career, missing almost two full seasons after the Royals acquired him from the Athletics before the 2018 season. But he came on last year as a shutdown reliever with a 0.52 ERA in 17 1⁄3 innings with 19 strikeouts. He was particularly tough against lefties, who went 0-for-28 against him last year. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.