KC Royals: Dillon Gee To Rotation; Mike Minor Begins Rehab

The KC Royals today removed Chris Young from the rotation in favor of long man Dillon Gee. Starter Mike Minor will begin his injury rehab from shoulder surgery on Tuesday.

The Kansas City Royals rotation needs the help. After a strong start to the season, the rotation has gotten bombed the last week. No pitcher has been worse than Chris Young, who got hit like a batting practice pitcher on Monday when the Yankees slammed five solo home runs against him in 2.2 inning pitched.

In 32.2 innings in 2016, Young has given up an awful 13 home runs.

Young’s so-called “ghost” fastball has materialized as a creampuff to major-league hitters, who are slamming his high 80’s offering into the seats with alarming regularity. At this pace, he’d give up 80 home runs if he pitched 200 innings.

Young attributes his problems to both poor location, and a lack of late life on his fastball.

Meanwhile, the KC Royals official Twitter account posted that starter Mike Minor will begin his rehab assignment with NW Arkansas tonight at 7:10 CST:

The Kansas City Royals rotation needs help. Not only has Chris Young been wobbling, so has Kris Medlen—who pitches tonight against the Yankees at 6:05 PM CST. Medlen needs to turn it around soon, or he could lose his rotation spot to fellow former Atlanta Brave Minor, whom the KC Royals inked to a two-year deal this winter.

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Early reports indicate that Minor has been hitting the mid-90s on the radar gun in his workouts at the Kansas City Royals rehab facility in Surprise, Arizona.

The 28-year-old Minor is a former top pitching prospect who broke through at age 25 with a 13-9, 3.21 ERA while logging 204.2 innings for the Braves in 2013. However, Minor struggled the following season and injured his shoulder in spring training of 2015 which required surgery. Minor has not appeared in a game since 2014.

Before the season, I cited the KC Royals rotation depth as a strength. Right now, the team needs it. Now we will see if one of general manager Dayton Moore’s reclamation projects can rescue his wallowing rotation.

Next: Royals Report: Chris Young Gets Bombed In Bronx

Last season, Chris Young, Joe Blanton, and Ryan Madson played key roles helping the Kansas City Royals pitching staff overcome starter Jeremy Guthrie‘s collapse and closer Greg Holland‘s torn UCL to win the World Series in 2015. Can Dillon Gee and Mike Minor provide a similar boost in 2016?