KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Royals placed right-handers Louis Coleman and Luke Hochevar on the disabled list as part of a series of moves that set their roster for Monday’s season opener in Detroit.
The Royals also returned infielder Jason Donald to minor league camp, which means that second baseman Omar Infante appears ready to start the season, and released catcher Ramon Hernandez from his minor league contract following Saturday’s exhibition game in Detroit.
Earlier on Sunday, the Royals sold the rights to left-hander Everett Teaford to the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization when it became clear he was not going to make the team.
The moves leave Kansas City with 39 players on its 40-man roster, and that the club will open the season with 11 pitchers on the 25-man roster rather than the 12 that was anticipated.
Coleman, who has a bone bruise and sprain on the middle finger of his right hand, is expected to be a key piece of the Royals bullpen this season. He was 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA in 27 appearances last season, and some believe he has the ability to become a setup man for Greg Holland.
Coleman’s injury occurred when he jammed his finger fielding a groundball in spring training, though he tried to come back from it earlier. His stint on the DL is retroactive to March 24.
Hochevar will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair the ligament in his right elbow. His placement on the DL, retroactive to March 21, was largely procedural.
Donald was viewed as insurance in case Infante was unable to start the season with the Royals because of a lingering elbow injury. But the former Tigers second baseman played five innings in a minor league game on Saturday and manager Ned Yost pronounced him ready for the season opener.
That also means that Pedro Ciriaco will be the backup middle infielder.
Hernandez, who missed much of spring training with a sore knee, was beaten out by Brett Hayes for the backup catcher job behind Salvador Perez. He spent most of last season at Triple-A Omaha.
The 29-year-old Teaford was 4-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 31 appearances at Omaha last season. He made one appearance at the major league level, and is 3-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 45 big league games.
The Royals have plenty of pitching in their bullpen, though, even putting Louis Coleman on the DL. Teaford appeared to be one of the odd men out, and he was assigned to minor league camp on March. The terms of his sale to the LG Twins was not disclosed.
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