KC Royals Activate Alex Gordon; Option Brett Eibner

The KC Royals activated outfielder Alex Gordon from the disabled list and option outfielder Brett Eibner to AAA Omaha. Gordon to bat second in the Kansas City Royals lineup.

Alex Gordon returns after missing more than a month due to breaking a bone in his hand in a collision with third baseman Mike Moustakas on May 23. Moustakas tore his right ACL (knee) in the incident, and will miss the remainder of the 2016 season.

Finally, KC Royals manager Ned Yost has moved light-hitting shortstop Alcides Escobar to the bottom of the lineup (no. 8), rather than allowing him to accumulate more at bats than other players by hitting him at the top of the lineup.

The other interesting point about Gordon’s return is the team’s choice to send down Eibner. While I can certainly see why the Kansas City Royals want to keep 13 relievers due to their shaky rotation, Eibner was hitting an outstanding .297/.350/.514, though he has cooled off his last few games after a scorching start.

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The move leaves Paulo Orlando as the de facto starter in right field, which really isn’t much of a surprise given his .358/.382/.469 triple slash in 162 at bats this season. Orlando would be leading the AL in batting average if he had enough at bats to qualify.

However, Orlando’s outrageously high Batting Average On Balls In Play (BABIP) of .460 (.300 is typical for most major league hitters) suggest he’s due for some significant regression. Of course, Ned Yost will keep putting Orlando in the lineup as long as he continues to produce.

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Since Jarrod Dyson has shown earlier this season that he’s a bench player rather than a full-time starter, don’t be surprised if Brett Eibner might return if Orlando’s play declines.