{"id":2027667,"date":"2025-09-17T01:08:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T01:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2027667"},"modified":"2025-09-17T01:08:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T01:08:38","slug":"royals-demote-slumping-26-year-old-before-mariners-series-activate-michael-wacha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/royals-demote-slumping-26-year-old-before-mariners-series-activate-michael-wacha\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals Demote Slumping 26-Year-Old Before Mariners Series, Activate Michael Wacha"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"style_hfl21i-o_O-style_uhlm2\"\/>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_c18d2s4a6\">The Kansas City Royals know every game is an absolute must-win from here on out, and on Tuesday night, they&#8217;ll open a crucial three-game series with Michael Wacha back on the hill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_b86ppqqp1\">The veteran Wacha missed his last turn through the rotation with a concussion. He&#8217;s pitched to a 3.45 ERA in 28 starts this season, exactly the kind of steady production he&#8217;s come to be known for in his thirties, and exactly why the Royals brought him back this offseason on a three-year extension.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_fzf1dzu5k\">However, someone had to pay the price for Wacha&#8217;s return, and it wasn&#8217;t a fellow pitcher.<\/p>\n<div data-mm-id=\"_xgl3qwlra\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"style_120ff32\">\n<figure data-id=\"_xgl3qwlra\" class=\"base_1ruub6q\" data-mm-type=\"image\"><canvas class=\"style_1e28o3x-o_O-initial_9vayoh\"\/><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\"><source\/><source\/><source\/><img class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\" alt=\"Nick Loftin\" title=\"Nick Loftin\"\/><\/picture><noscript><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_620,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_620,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4041,h_2273,x_0,y_133\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k5aaajp791vbq9mgq7.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"\/><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><figcaption class=\"tagStyle_1ulimm5-o_O-text_1j8vahs\">Sep 6, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Nick Loftin (12) hits a one run double against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images \/ Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_stn0mjrr8\">Prior to Tuesday&#8217;s series opener, the Royals announced that utility man Nick Loftin <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_1gn6yjz\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Royals\/status\/1968030822788894816\" target=\"_blank\">had been optioned<\/a> to Triple-A Omaha. The active roster previously contained 15 position players and 13 pitchers, so it&#8217;s back to an even balance heading into Wacha&#8217;s face-off with the Seattle Mariners&#8217; Logan Gilbert.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_fwk8lcj06\">Loftin, 26, has appeared in 67 games this season, playing every infield position but shortstop, plus left field. His offense has been subpar, with a .635 OPS that ranks 10th on the team among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_j4jz4ek70\">Once the 32nd overall pick in the draft, Loftin has now been optioned six times since he made his major league debut in September of 2023. He&#8217;s sporting a career .220\/.294\/.323 slash line, with only five home runs in 143 games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_xhdcjjbl8\">The Royals have a big group of players in Loftin&#8217;s mold who have floated between Triple-A and the majors over the past couple of seasons, and because they&#8217;ve rarely had better solutions, most of those players have been given repeat opportunities after decent showings at Triple-A.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_ui389ah6v\">That group includes names like MJ Melendez, Drew Waters, John Rave, and Nate Eaton (now with the Boston Red Sox).<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_s0xcd4ygb\">Loftin&#8217;s season at the big-league level could very well  be over, though he&#8217;d be eligible to be called back up if someone was injured. He will still have one more minor-league option year in 2026, so he can hang around in the organization and hope to make the most of any further opportunities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_zb1qwmpak\"><em><strong>More MLB: <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_1gn6yjz\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/news\/royals-tragic-number-for-playoff-elimination-leaves-no-room-for-error-jackson3\"><em><strong>Royals &#8216;Tragic Number&#8217; For Playoff Elimination Leaves No Room For Error<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.si.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansas City Royals know every game is an absolute must-win from here on out, and on Tuesday night, they&#8217;ll open a crucial three-game series with Michael Wacha back on the hill. The veteran Wacha missed his last turn through the rotation with a concussion. He&#8217;s pitched to a 3.45 ERA in 28 starts this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2027668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2027667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Royals-Demote-Slumping-26-Year-Old-Before-Mariners-Series-Activate-Michael-Wacha.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2027667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2027668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2027667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2027667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2027667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}