Kansas City Royals Call Up Jorge Soler and Ramon Torres

The Kansas City Royals called up another pair of players prior to Tuesday’s game in Detroit. While not in the starting lineup, Jorge Soler and Ramon Torres will be available off the bench.

With Triple-A Omaha wrapping up its season on Monday, it’s no surprise the Kansas City Royals called up a couple of players on Tuesday.

The club had previously called up five players on Sept. 1, but a few new additions were always likely to come sooner rather than later.

Jorge Soler

Chief among the call-ups is outfielder Jorge Soler. He is known mostly for being the man the Kansas City Royals got in exchange for trading Wade Davis to the Chicago Cubs during the offseason.

Kansas City Royals

With a lot to live up to, Soler has had trouble staying healthy this season. When he has been at 100 percent, he has struggled at the Major League-level but performed well with the Storm Chasers.

Soler has played in 103 games (29 with the Royals) this year. During his time in the big leagues, he has hit just .154 with a pair of home runs and six RBI. The 25-year-old has struck out in 34 of his 91 big-league at-bats in 2017.

However, he has shown a lot of promise recently at Omaha. His average in Triple-A was at .267 and his OPS was significantly higher, too (.952 compared to .520 with the Kansas City Royals). Soler has shown some pop with 24 home runs, including one off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw who was on a rehab assignment.

With Alex Gordon and Jorge Bonifacio currently struggling at the plate, Soler could see a few spot starts in right field over the coming weeks.

Ramon Torres

The other Storm Chaser to receive a call to join the Royals in Detroit was infielder Ramon Torres.

A light-hitting shortstop, Torres had just 17 extra-base hits in his 75 games with Omaha this season. He did hit at a solid .292 average with an excellent 15 walks to 32 strikeouts. Torres has also shown a propensity for base-stealing, swiping 17 bags in Triple-A.

Somewhat surprisingly, he has played almost as many games at the Major League-level as Soler has this season. Torres has seen action in 23 games with the Kansas City Royals.

In those games, he has a .242 average with just three RBI in 62 at-bats. The 24-year-old showed little pop, as only three of his hits—all doubles—went for extra bases.

With Alcides Escobar and Raul Mondesi—who was part of the Sept. 1 call-ups—also with the Kansas City Royals, Torres will be lucky to start any games at shortstop this season. Escobar seems entrenched at the position, despite his struggles. But if Ned Yost decided to give him a rest—or bench him entirely—Mondesi seems the more likely one to fill-in.

Torres could see a start or two at second base or third base during a get-away day game.

What Does it Mean?

The Kansas City Royals added some needed depth with no scheduled days off until Sept. 18.

While both are available for Tuesday’s game, neither is in the lineup released by the Royals.

Although neither player will make an immediate impact, Soler is the most likely to get playing time with the corner outfield spots—aside from Melky Cabrera—seeming to be on a rotation-basis.

If the playoffs start to become a pipe dream, expect Soler to become a regular—assuming he can stay healthy—with Torres getting some additional playing time, as well.

Next: Royals Staying in Postseason Hunt

What do you think, Royals fans? Will Soler or Torres step up and help this team make the playoffs? Let us know what you think in the comments and on social media.