The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have placed third baseman Mike Moustakas on the 15-day disabled list with a torn right Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The disabled list stint is retroactive to Monday, May 23. To take Moustakas’ place, the Royals have recalled outfielder Brett Eibner from Omaha (AAA). Eibner will be in uniform (#12) for tonight’s game against the Chicago White Sox at 7:15 p.m.
Eibner, 27, was originally selected by the Royals in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. He was hitting .309 (46-for-149) in his first 41 games with the Storm Chasers this season, while he ranks fifth in the Pacific Coast League with 10 homers and is tied for 11th in the league with a .948 OPS. He received the Frank White Award as the organization’s top fielder while with Wilmington (A) in 2012.
There is no immediate word from the Royals on whether the ACL injury will be a season-ender for Moustakas. Royals flagship station KCSP 610 Sports is reporting that the ACL tear is a “partial” and not “complete” tear of the ligament. Recovery from a complete ACL tear (the injury suffered by Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles last year) is normally in the 9 to 12 month category.
