Royals' Nick Loftin: Picking up fourth straight start
Rotowire
Loftin will start at second base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Loftin will get his fourth start in a row and his second straight at the keystone, filling in for Jonathan India (shoulder). India is expected to be available off the bench Sunday and appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list, but Loftin could instead get playing time in the outfield at the expense of Drew Waters, who has gone 3-for-23 over his last nine games.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Loftin had picked up starts in each of the last three games -- two in left field and one at third base -- while going 3-for-11 with a solo home run and a double, but he'll be back on the bench for the first contest of the twin bill. With the Royals calling up top prospect Jac Caglianone from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Loftin's opportunities to make starts out of the corner outfield could become more limited moving forward.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
The 26-year-old is taking the roster spot vacated by Hunter Renfroe, who has been designated for assignment. Loftin sports a .295/.451/.468 slash line with four home runs, 12 steals and a 22:39 K:BB over 40 Triple-A games. He's primarily been used at third base by Omaha this year but has also seen action at first base, second base and left field, and he could find opportunities around the diamond on a Royals club that's starved for offense.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Heads back to minors
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Loftin was recalled this past weekend and didn't see any action during his brief time with the big club. He will return to a regular role with Omaha.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Called up Sunday
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
The 26-year-old missed out on the Opening Day roster despite posting a 1.052 OPS during spring training, but he'll join the Royals a month into the season. Loftin had a .189/.282/.236 slash line in 171 plate appearances in the big leagues last year, but he's been hitting well for Omaha this season with a .938 OPS. It could be a short stay in the majors since the corresponding transaction was Tyler Tolbert being placed on the bereavement list.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Sent to Omaha
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Loftin fell shy of an Opening Day roster spot despite a 1.052 OPS during Cactus League play. He will play regularly at Omaha while awaiting another chance at the big-league level.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Moves past illness
Rotowire
Loftin (illness) played three innings at third base and went 1-for-2 in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers in Cactus League play.
Jonathan India drew the start at third base, but Loftin was available off the bench and made his return to action for the first time since Thursday, when he was forced out of a game against the Guardians after coming down with an illness. Now that he's healthy again, Loftin will look to close the spring on a high note with the hope of securing a reserve role on the Royals' season-opening 26-man active roster.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Exits with illness
Rotowire
Loftin exited Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs with an illness.
Loftin returned to the lineup Thursday after missing the previous four days with a wrist issue. He went 0-for-2 at the plate before leaving the game and is now 6-for-13 this spring. Loftin is competing for a utility role after appearing in 57 regular-season games for the Royals last season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Loftin (wrist) will start at third base and bat fourth in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Loftin was a late scratch from the lineup prior to Sunday's contest due to wrist soreness, but he appears to be feeling better after a few days of rest. The 26-year-old has fared well in his pursuit of an Opening Day roster spot, going 6-for-11 with three RBI and two runs scored across six spring games.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Battling wrist issue
Rotowire
Loftin was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to right wrist soreness.
Loftin was penciled to bat fifth as the designated hitter but will instead sit out at least one game due to the wrist injury. The 26-year-old is competing for a utility role in spring training after he posted a .518 OPS in 57 regular-season games last year.
Lofton will compete with Cavan Biggio and Harold Castro for a utility role this spring, the Kansas City Star reports. He's 3-for-4 in his first two spring games.
Loftin had a .803 OPS in his first taste of the majors in 19 games in 2023, but he struggled last season with a .518 OPS in 57 games. He still hit .302 with a .857 OPS at Triple-A last season. He can play several positions in the infield and outfield -- he played second base Saturday -- but the Royals may prefer a left-handed hitter in the role (both Castro and Biggio hit lefty). At just age 26 this season, Loftin may have the most upside among the group.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
The 25-year-old was called up by the Royals on Thursday but won't stick in the majors long following the additions of veterans Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman and Yuli Gurriel. Loftin hasn't done much while up in the big leagues this season and has a .518 OPS in 57 games.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Joining big-league club
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Loftin will replace Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) on the active roster as Pasquantino heads to the injured list. Loftin has been with Omaha since July 30 and has slashed .199/.294/.248 with Kansas City this season, although he has a .358/.436/.494 line at Triple-A in August. The 25-year-old might see plenty of work at first base, though the Royals should also give Salvador Perez opportunities at the position.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old will lose his place on the big-league roster after the Royals acquired Paul DeJong from the White Sox on Tuesday. Loftin has a .199/.294/.248 slash line with one homer in 55 MLB games this season.
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Loftin is on the bench for a second straight game after starting the previous three games. Maikel Garcia will again shift to the hot corner while Michael Massey starts at second base.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Loftin will take a seat Saturday after making three consecutive starts. Maikel Garcia will shift to third base while Garrett Hampson plays second base.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Loftin is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Loftin had started each of the previous five games at third base but picked up just one hit during that stretch. CJ Alexander will get the call at the hot corner for Tuesday's contest.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Nabs steal
Rotowire
Loftin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.
Loftin has gone just 4-for-41 (.098) with a 5:10 BB:K over his last 14 contests. The versatile infielder got the start at third base for the second game in a row after CJ Alexander was at the hot corner for the two previous contests. The Royals are limiting Michael Massey to designated hitter to ease him in after another back injury, but once he's able to play the field, Loftin's usage is like to decrease. Loftin is slashing just .223/.322/.282 with one home run, one steal, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 122 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-0, 180 lbs
Birthplace: Corpus Christi, TX
Age: 26
Experience: 2
Bats/Throws: R, R
Help us stay on the ball.
Step up to the plate and take this short, confidential survey. It'll help make CBSSports.com a better experience for users everywhere. Want to give it a shot?
0:27
7:09
1:53
1:30
12:05
0:56
9:43
1:27
11:41
2:29
11:25
0:37
1:07
9:30
1:59
10:58
8:42
8:55
5:53
5:55
