Kansas City Royals: Mike Minor Is Recovering Well
By Charles Lam
The Kansas City Royals need starting pitching help. Chris Young and Kris Medlen are both on the DL. Dillion Gee and Danny Duffy have pitched well in their absence but neither may not be the long term solution. Help is on the way soon and his name is Mike Minor.
Mike Minor has dealt with left shoulder soreness throughout his career. The 27-year-old left hander, underwent exploratory surgery on his left shoulder in May of 2015. The doctor found a slight tear of the labrum in his shoulder.
Minor missed the entire 2015 season due to the injury. He’s currently rehabbing in the minor leagues.
When healthy, Minor has pitched pretty well. During the 2013 season, Minor started 32 games, throwing 204.2 innings for a 3.21 ERA. Those are some solid numbers for the former Atlanta Brave.
Minor started alongside Kris Medlen in Atlanta. They know each other, which should help Minor when he get’s back to the big leagues this season.
The interesting thing is Minor and Medlen are both fighting for a starting rotation spot. Hopefully this doesn’t put a strain on their relationship.
Kansas City Royals beat reporter, Rustin Dodd, posted some good news on Minor via Twitter.
Mike Minor stopped in at the K tonight and checked in with Royals staff. He said his velo has been better than last time he was healthy.
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) May 18, 2016
Minor’s pitched parts of five seasons for the Atlanta Braves. His career numbers are solid. He’s started 110 of 111 games, with a 4.29 career ERA.
Minor has some OK numbers during his rehab stint. Through 7.2 innings at AA Northwest Arkansas, he’s accumulated a 3.52 ERA. He gave up five runs off five hits and a home run. The great news is he struck out 12 batters.
Minor’s next rehab start will come this Friday for the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers, according to Royals twitter.
(Cont.) Also, LHP Mike Minor has his rehab assignment transferred to Omaha (AAA). He will start Friday for the Storm Chasers in Reno.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 18, 2016
Minor is fighting for a starting spot in the Royals starting rotation. There are a few guys he’ll have to beat out for the job. Currently, Dillion Gee and Danny Duffy are the four and five starters.
Gee has a 3.12 ERA through 26 innings pitched this season for Kansas City. He’s got one start and another coming against the Chicago White Sox on the road, Friday.
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The White Sox game will be a tester for Gee. His first start came against a bad team, the nine and 29 Atlanta Braves. Chicago is fourth in run differential at plus 37. The White Sox as a team are slashing .253/.328/.400.
Duffy’s in line to see the White Sox twice in less than a week. Duffy’s first start of the season also came against the lowly Braves. Duffy went three innings giving up one hit and two walks. He also struck out five.
So far this season Duffy has pitched well. He’s got an ERA of 2.56 through 21 innings pitched and an impressive 26 strike outs.
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Minor will also battle Chris Young and Kris Medlen for the starting role. Before being placed on the DL, Chris Young‘s ERA was a 6.68 and Medlen’s was even worse at 7.77. Minor should be ranked ahead of both guys when he arrives in Kansas City.
Minor might be the answer for the Royals. Only time will tell how well his recovery continues at Omaha. Borrowing no set backs, the Royals may have a new back end starter come June.