Royals activate Adalberto Mondesi

The Royals have activated shortstop Adalberto Mondesi from the Injured List and he is in the starting lineup tonight against Tampa Bay. Yesterday, the club optioned pitcher Jake Newberry to Triple-A Omaha. Mondesi had missed the first 45 games with an oblique injury he suffered just before Opening Day.

The Royals were hoping for a breakout season by Mondesi after he finished last year on a tear. The switch-hitting shortstop hit .376/.424/.706 with six home runs and seven walks in his last 22 games of 2020 after getting off to a dreadful start. But injuries have plagued Mondesi his entire career. He has never played more than 102 games in a Major League season, missing time in 2018 with a shoulder impingement and in 2019 with a groin injury and later a shoulder injury that required surgery. He also came into spring training this year with a foot injury. In parts of five seasons in the big leagues, Mondesi has hit .251/.284/.415 for an OPS+ of 84.

Mondesi is hitting seventh in the lineup tonight, back at shortstop. Nicky Lopez will sit on the bench tonight, but it will be interesting to see if the Royals try to work him in at second base with Whit Merrifield moving to right field on occasion. Merrifield is at second tonight with Jorge Soler in right field and Salvador Perez at DH.

The Royals also announced yesterday they have moved Hunter Dozier off the 7-day Injured List for concussion protocol, and moved him to the regular 10-day Injury List. Dozier is currently rehabbing with Triple-A Omaha.