The Kansas City Royals have made some recent moves in their minor league system. They have signed two former MLB infielders from independent ball on minor league contracts. Adeiny Hechavarría, a nine-year MLB veteran, will join Triple-A Omaha, while Jack Reinheimer will report to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Hechavarría has had a notable career, primarily as a defensive specialist. He played as an everyday player for the Miami Marlins early in his career, accumulating nearly 1000 games in the majors. Throughout his career, he has posted a batting line of .253/.291/.351 and typically batted towards the bottom of the lineup. Hechavarría last played in the big leagues in 2020 before spending time in Japan in 2021-2022. He had a Spring Training stint with the Atlanta Braves this season but was ultimately released. In April, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League and impressed with a .297/.382/.538 batting line, including seven home runs in 38 games, which earned him a return to affiliated baseball.
Reinheimer, on the other hand, is a 30-year-old infielder with limited MLB experience. He has played in a total of 23 MLB games between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets in 2017-2018. In the Atlantic League with the Gastonia Honey Hunters, Reinheimer has been performing well, batting .313/.421/.513. He has shown good plate discipline, with an equal number of walks and strikeouts. Reinheimer has spent parts of five Triple-A seasons, batting .266/.334/.358.
While the Royals have added infield depth with these signings, they are also experiencing a loss in catching depth. Jakson Reetz has decided to opt out of his minor league deal. Reetz had played two MLB games with the Washington Nationals in 2021. He has been playing in Omaha this year and has been impressive at the plate, boasting a .274/.349/.526 slash line through 106 plate appearances.
