Royals' Drew Waters: Doesn't make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Waters had a solid spring, but Kyle Isbel was better and already had the perceived leg up for the center field job due to his defense. The switch-hitting Waters should still spend ample time in the majors this season but will begin the year at Omaha.
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Royals' Drew Waters: No lock to make big-league roster
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Waters could be assigned to Triple-A Omaha if he doesn't win a starting job in spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Waters' development is still important, and consistent at-bats with Omaha would serve him better than acting as a fourth outfielder. The addition of Hunter Renfroe took Waters' starting job away, and Kyle Isbel's defense has made him the favorite for center field. If Waters ends up in the minors to begin 2024, Dairon Blanco is projected to be the Royals' fourth outfielder.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Out with quad injury
Rotowire
Waters (quad) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Yankees.
He exited Saturday's game with left quadriceps tightness, so it's no surprise to see Waters out of the lineup for the final game of the regular season. Dairon Blanco will start in center field and hit seventh.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Exits with quad injury
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Waters was removed from Saturday's game against the Yankees with left quadriceps tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Waters was replaced in the fourth inning by Dairon Blanco. It's unclear whether Waters will be available for Sunday's season finale.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Waters is not in the lineup Friday against the Yankees.
Kyle Isbel will start in center field and bat ninth with left-hander Carlos Rodon toeing the slab for New York. The switch-hitting Waters has slashed just .208/.279/.312 in 86 plate appearances versus lefties this season.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Picks up 16th steal
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Waters went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Astros.
Waters is now 6-for-7 on stolen base attempts in September, and he's hitting .264 (14-for-53) this month. The outfielder has had some growing pains in his first full big-league campaign with a .234/.308/.386 slash line over 94 contests. He's added 16 thefts, eight home runs, 32 RBI and 39 runs scored while seeing a starting role, albeit not an everyday one, down the stretch.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup Friday against Houston.
The switch-hitting Waters holds just a .613 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, so he'll take a seat against southpaw Framber Valdez. Kyle Isbel will get the nod in center field and bat ninth.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Swipes two bags
Rotowire
Waters went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two steals in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Guardians.
Waters is now 4-for-7 with three doubles in his last two games after going 0-for-12 with nine strikeouts over his previous five contests. With his two steals Wednesday, the 24-year-old outfielder improved to 15-for-19 on stolen base attempts this season. Overall, Waters is slashing .237/.309/.392 with eight homers, 39 runs scored and 32 RBI across 317 plate appearances as he looks to earn a spot on the Royals' 2024 Opening Day roster.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Waters is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians.
Waters went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI versus Cleveland on Monday but has a .256/.430/.326 slash line and 30 percent strikeout rate through 15 games in September. Kyle Isbel will handle center field and bat ninth Tuesday.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Not in starting lineup
Rotowire
Waters will be on the bench Saturday against Houston.
Waters has struggled to a .203/.306/.297 slash line over his last 25 games, though he does at least have six steals over that stretch. Dairon Blanco will get the start in right field Saturday.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Not starting nightcap
Rotowire
Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox.
Waters struck out in all four of his plate appearances during Tuesday's first game, and he'll start on the bench for Game 2. Waters' absence will allow Dairon Blanco to start in right field and bat ninth.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Day off Friday
Rotowire
Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup Friday against the Blue Jays.
Waters will take a seat Friday after going 7-for-21 with two RBI and five runs scored through his first six games in September. MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and Dairon Blanco will make up Kansas City's outfield Friday.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Reaches three times in loss
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Waters went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox.
Waters accounted for half of the Royals' hits in the game. He's hit safely in five of six games in September, going 7-for-21 (.333) with three walks and two steals this month. Waters is slashing .236/.307/.391 with 12 steals, eight home runs, 29 RBI and 37 runs scored through 81 contests. He should be in the lineup most of the time as a switch hitter, but the Royals' crowded outfield could prevent him from seeing an everyday role.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Solid off bench Sunday
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Waters went 1-for-1 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Waters has moved out of an everyday role with the success of Nelson Velazquez. Despite that, Waters is hitting .267 with two steals over his last nine contests -- enough to keep him in the lineup most days. He's slashing .231/.302/.393 with 11 steals, eight home runs, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored through 78 games overall. In addition to Waters, Kyle Isbel (hamstring) has also lost playing time lately as the Royals try to balance playing time for up to five players in the three outfield positions.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Not starting Sunday
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Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup Sunday against Boston.
Waters will get a breather Sunday after charting hits in each of the first two games of the Royals' series with the Red Sox. Samad Taylor, Dairon Blanco and Nelson Velazquez will make up Kansas City's outfield while Waters rests.
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Royals' Drew Waters: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Waters is absent from the lineup Wednesday against the Pirates.
MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and Nelson Velazquez will start across the outfield for the Royals. Waters has been productive overall in August, but he is 1-for-11 with six strikeouts in his last three games.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Homers in blowout loss
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Waters went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 15-2 loss to the Mariners.
While four of the Royals' hits went for extra bases, Waters' blast was the only homer for the team Saturday. He has an extra-base hit in each of his last three games. The outfielder is up to eight long balls, 10 stolen bases, 26 RBI, 32 runs scored, six doubles and five triples while slashing .235/.306/.412 over 72 contests this season.
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Royals' Drew Waters: On base three times in win
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Waters went 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Athletics.
Waters' triple snapped his 0-for-10 skid over the last four games. The outfielder has also picked up a steal in two straight games to get to 10 thefts on the year. He's slashing a poor .228/.299/.393 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs scored, five doubles and five triples through 70 contests on the year, and he's batting just .204 (11-for-54) in August.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Posts steal in loss
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Waters went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Athletics.
Waters is in a bit of a slump, going 0-for-10 across his last four games. He's picked up the pace on the basepaths lately, notching four of his nine steals this season over his last 12 contests dating back to Aug. 7. The outfielder is slashing a mediocre .226/.292/.382 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 30 runs scored, five doubles and four triples through 69 games overall.
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Royals' Drew Waters: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Waters is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Waters is mired in a 4-for-23 slump and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale in Chicago. Dairon Blanco will receive a start in right field and bat ninth.
