Danny Valencia is Back for the Royals

Prior to today’s game, the Kansas City Royals announced that Danny Valencia is back, having completed his rehab assignment With the Omaha Storm Chasers. To make room for Valencia on the roster, the Royals sent reliever Louis Coleman back to the minors.

The return of Valencia brings back the Royals platoon system at third base. Ned Yost mentioned that Valencia would likely start against left handed pitching, with Mike Moustakas hitting against right handed starters. With Valencia hitting at a .289/.317/.421 rate against lefties and Moustakas producing better against righties, it was inevitable that the platoon would be returning.

An interesting footnote in Danny Valencia’s return is the performance was part of the reason why Coleman was sent down. While his demotion gives the Royals a more conventional seven man bullpen, it seems that he did not exactly endear himself to manager Ned Yost, especially during his outing against the Detroit Tigers.

“He had the big slurvy slider. He had a four-seam fastball. He was behind in the count.” Yost said. “He said, ‘Well, that’s the way I pitched in Triple-A.’ Yeah, because you can get guys out like that at Triple-A. It doesn’t work here.”

With that reluctance to adjust and apparent refusal to listen to Yost and the coaches, it may be a while before Coleman returns to Kansas City. As Coleman has posted a 6.41 ERA and a 1.932 WHiP, it would appear as though Yost has a point. In fact, it would seem as though Coleman should be taking any advice he could as to how to get major league hitters out, as whatever he has been doing thus far simply has not worked.

Now, Louis Coleman can go back to getting out AAA hitters because Danny Valencia is back with the Royals. Perhaps the platoon can lead to the solid production that the Royals need to be getting at third base.