Drew Waters called up, Mark Canha hits the IL
Drew Waters gets another shot.
The Royals announced today they have placed outfielder Mark Canha on the Injured List and have called up outfielder Drew Waters from Triple-A Omaha. Canha suffered a left adductor strain jumping against the wall to catch a flyball last night, causing him to exit the game.
Waters was off to a hot start for the Storm Chasers, hitting .370/.469/.741 with two home runs and three steals in seven games, including a contest last Wednesday where he hit for the cycle. The 26-year-old is a career .229/.306/.396 hitter in 465 MLB plate appearances, with much of that playing time occurring in 2023. Last year he appeared in just seven games with the Royals, and was passed over for promotions numerous times.
The switch-hitter has yet to hit at the MLB level, but there is a good chance he could serve as a defensive upgrade over MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Royals outfielders are hitting just .234/.303/.324, the sixth-lowest OPS in baseball, after finishing with the fourth-worst mark last year.
Canha had appeared in seven games, and was 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and two walks.