KC Royals Call Up Daniel Nava, Christian Colon, & Kevin McCarthy

The KC Royals brought up outfielder Daniel Nava, utility infielder Christian Colon, and pitcher Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday. Kansas City also designated outfielder Reymond Fuentes and pitcher Nick Tepesch for assignment.

This series of moves from the Kansas City Royals follows the end of the minor league season on September 5. The Omaha Stormchasers didn’t make post-season play, but AA NW Arkansas won the North Division to qualify for the Texas League playoffs.

Daniel Nava‘s recall was expected after general manager Dayton Moore acquired the switch-hitting outfielder at the end of August from the Los Angeles Angels for consideration to be named later (cash or player). Christian Colon only went to AAA to make room for needed pitching help due to an exhausted bullpen. Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy will make his major-league debut in his next appearance with the KC Royals.

On the downside, Reymond Fuentes and Nick Tepesch hit the waiver wire. I expect the speedy 25-year-old Fuentes to get claimed. He’s a lefty-hitting former first round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox and is also the cousin of veteran Carlos Beltran.

Tepesch is a hometown kid who played at Blue Springs High. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old looks like he won’t get to fulfill his dream of playing for the home team. However, as a soft-tossing righty that relies on keeping the ball on the ground, he could slip through waivers.

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Kevin McCarthy is a 24-year-old rookie who has not yet appeared in a major league game. The Royals picked him in the 13th round of the 2013 draft for Marist College in New York. He compiled a 3.04 ERA with a 7.8 K/9 in 68.0 innings pitched between AA NW Arkansas and AAA Omaha this season.

McCarthy is hardly an exciting prospect. He’s just another fresh arm to help the bullpen eat innings. At this point, I don’t expect to see him in anything but garbage time except in an emergency.

Nava and Colon are bench players that give manager Ned Yost pinching hitting options in the late innings.

Next: Could Josh Staumont Make The Leap From AA To KC?

At this point, I don’t expect to see the KC Royals add any more minor-league players to their roster absent injury. They could still reactivate injured pitchers Jason Vargas and Kris Medlen. With the minor-league season now ended, it appears the Kansas City Royals are mostly set for their September run at the playoffs.