On Monday afternoon, Kansas City Royals minor league outfielder Diego Hernandez was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to High-A Quad Cities. Hernandez had dislocated his right shoulder during his first Cactus League game about four months prior. Despite the injury, the Royals added Hernandez to the 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Known for his Major League-ready center field defense, the 22-year-old Dominican Republic native still needs further development with his batting skills. In his rehab games with the Arizona Complex League and Quad Cities, Hernandez performed well, slashing .382/.462/.765 with three home runs and seven RBIs. If he continues to progress, there’s a possibility he could be promoted later in the season, considering he ended the 2022 season in Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
On the other hand, left-handed reliever Josh Taylor, who the Royals acquired in a trade involving Adalberto Mondesi, has experienced a setback in his recovery. Taylor had been dealing with left shoulder impingement syndrome, which led to his placement on the injured list on May 28. However, during his shoulder recovery, Taylor suffered a herniated disk in his lower back, leading to surgery on June 27. It is expected that Taylor will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. Prior to his injury, he had pitched 17 2/3 innings and allowed 16 earned runs.
