KC Royals Activate Brett Eibner, Option Reymond Fuentes

The KC Royals activated outfielder Brett Eibner from the 15-day disabled list, and optioned outfielder Reymond Fuentes to AAA Omaha Thursday afternoon.

The Kansas City Royals chose the right-handed hitting Eibner over the left-handed hitting Fuentes, despite Fuentes hitting .317/.364/.341 in 44 plate appearances for the Royals this season. While Fuentes got the job done during his time in Kansas City, Eibner offers more power and defensive skills than Fuentes.

Both players run well, but Eibner makes up for some of the thump the KC Royals offense lost with Mike Moustakas’ ACL injury.

The 27-year-old Brett Eibner had a four-game hitting streak going when he sprained his left ankle two weeks ago, and was slashing an insane .462/.500/.692. .Eibner had something of a storybook debut during the Memorial Day weekend.

Eibner’s seventh inning double ignited a comeback win in his first game. In his second, Eibner slashed a walkoff single that finished off the greatest ninth inning comeback in KC Royals history in an 8-7 win over the White Sox. That was the game that Salvador Perez went down with what looked like a season-ending injury with the Kansas City Royals trailing the White Sox 7-1, before staging a seven-run rally in the ninth.

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While Reymond Fuentes performed well in Eibner’s place, Brett Eibner is something of a five-tool player who can hit, hit for power, run the bases, throw, all with the range to play center-field. Despite Eibner’s raw athleticism, he was slow to develop as a prospect due to his difficulty learning to hit.

Only last season, Brett Eibner broke through at AAA Omaha to slash .303/.364/.514, which was his first truly dominant season at the plate in a minor league career that extends back to 2011 when the KC Royals made him their second round draft choice. Eibner was happy to be drafted by the Kansas City Royals, because KC scouts were interested in him as a position player rather than a pitcher.

Next: What Happens When Alex Gordon And Brett Eibner Return?

Welcome back, Brett Eibner. Your jersey is already in the KC Royals Hall Of Fame for your part in the greatest ninth inning rally in team history. Let’s hope that’s the first of many milestones you achieve in your career.