Royals Option Wade Davis, Louis Coleman; Recall Danny Duffy, Activate Luke Hochevar

Aug 21, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Louis Coleman (31) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Chicago won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

As noted previously, the Royals recalled Danny Duffy to make Wednesday’s start, but the move to get him on the active roster (and a returning Luke Hochevar, who had been on the paternity leave list) had yet to be known.

This afternoon, the Royals announced that they’d optioned Wade Davis, newly shifted to the bullpen, and Louis Coleman to Wilmington in the Carolina League.

Why move a key part of the Wil Myers trade to High A? And who did Coleman tick off to get sent down three levels?

It’s all just a fun roster game. The Blue Rocks season ends on September 2 and they’re longshots to qualify for the Carolina League postseason, so their season will end next Monday. Typically, a player who is optioned has to stay down for 10 days, but with the Wilmington season ending, both Davis and Coleman would be eligible to return. Omaha is currently in the lead in the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division with less than a week to go and Northwest Arkansas has a good shot to make their postseason as well.

This allows the Royals to sneak both players back sooner than usual. Ned Yost says both will pitch in Wilmington. Davis will get a two inning appearance to remind himself of the bullpen routine. Coleman was sent down so that the Royals could take two lefties to Toronto. Will Smith was the expected pitcher to be sent down, but he will stick around through the rest of the Twins series, the Blue Jays series, and, likely, through the rest of September since rosters will have expanded.

I want to see Louis Coleman face High A level hitters. Coleman has a 0.39 ERA and a 6 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio in the big leagues. A kid in the Carolina League wouldn’t stand a chance.