The Royals have placed outfielder Hunter Renfroe on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. To fill his spot on the roster, outfielder Tyler Gentry has been called up from Triple-A Omaha.
Renfroe was pulled from Saturday’s 11-2 loss to the Phillies in the ninth inning, which didn’t raise eyebrows given the game’s lopsided score. However, manager Matt Quatraro explained on Sunday (via MLB.com’s Anne Rogers) that Renfroe had tweaked his hamstring, prompting the team to place him on the IL as a precaution. The move also ensures the Royals maintain a full roster during a particularly busy stretch, as Sunday marked the third game in a run of 14 games over 13 days, including Monday’s double-header against the Guardians.
This marks Renfroe’s second stint on the IL this season, having previously missed 10 games in June due to a bone bruise on his left foot. Since his return, Renfroe has improved, posting a .274/.351/.433 slash line with six home runs in 185 plate appearances, helping to turn around a sluggish start to the season. Despite his recent success, his overall numbers are still below average, with a .237/.312/.398 slash line and a 97 wRC+ over 372 plate appearances.
With Renfroe’s recent form, the Royals can’t afford to lose him for an extended period as they push for a playoff spot. In his absence, left-handed hitter Adam Frazier, who has seen significant time in right field, could share the position with Dairon Blanco. Gentry is also expected to be part of the mix in his Major League debut. A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, Gentry has spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Omaha, batting .254/.360/.424 with 29 homers and 19 stolen bases across 995 plate appearances. Added to the 40-man roster last November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, Gentry is ranked 15th among Royals prospects by MLB Pipeline. Known for his strong throwing arm and contact-hitting ability, Gentry’s debut comes as he might be hitting his stride, though he may need time to adjust to Major League pitching.