KC Royals: Dillon Gee Returns; Miguel Almonte Sent Down

KC Royals long reliever Dillon Gee returned to the roster Thursday night from paternity leave. Pitcher Miguel Almonte was optioned back to Omaha without appearing in a game.

The 23-year-old Almonte didn’t get a change to flash his fourseam fastball that touches 100 mph against major league hitters in his temporary stay with the Kansas City Royals. Meanwhile, Gee suited up for the KC Royals for Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers, but did not appear when Edinson Volquez pitched seven shutout innings to earn the win.

The 29-year-old Gee’s wife Kari Ann gave birth to daughter Charlotte on Monday, which is the couple’s second child after son Dylan.

Gee has pitched well in his two appearances in a KC Royals uniform in 2016, notching a 1.80 ERA in 5.0 innings pitched. Dillon Gee is in his first season with Kansas City after spending his entire 10-year professional career in the New York Mets organization. Gee made his major league debut in 2010, and has a career 40-37 record, with 4.01 ERA in 110 starts for the Mets.

Gee became expendable in New York after the Mets brought up a wave of young rotation arms that included Jacob DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Stephen Matz, with Zack Wheeler expected back in mid-season. After signing a minor-league deal with the Kansas City Royals this winter, Gee earned a roster spot with a solid spring performance in Surprise, AZ.

Next: Volquez Handcuffs Tigers in 4-0 Win

Though Gee is a long-reliever at the moment, he could make his way into the KC Royals rotation if Chris Young (0-3, 7.90 ERA) continues to get lit up by opponents.