The Kansas City Royals appear to be in no rush to activate the rehabbing Jorge Soler, and the reasons involve more than just the outfielder’s health.
The Royals have scored 54 runs, 17 fewer than any major-league team, and could use an offensive boost. But general manager Dayton Moore tells Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star that Soler is not expected to be activated Friday, adding the Royals could wait until Soler’s rehab assignment runs its course on May 10 before making a decision.
Soler, acquired from the Chicago Cubs over the winter for Wade Davis, began the season on the disabled list with a strained oblique. Soler is 5-for-20 with a pair of homers in six games for Triple-A Omaha.
Since Soler missed the end of spring training, Moore says he would like the 25-year-old to get a steady diet of at-bats and be completely healthy before his Royals’ debut. Soler, who already has made four trips to the DL, hit 12 homers in 227 at-bats last season for the Cubs.
Dodd adds the Royals might face a roster pinch if they activated Soler right now. Infielders Cheslor Cuthbert and Christian Colon are out of options, and the Royals might lose them to other teams if they are removed from the 25-man roster.
It also gives the Royals a chance to take a longer look at rookie outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, who is 5-for-17 since his call-up last week.
- Doug Mittler
