The Kansas City Royals made a good announcement after a win against the Minnesota Twins.
The Kansas City Royals had plenty to feel good about on Monday, and it was not just because of what happened on the field.
The Royals knocked off the Minnesota Twins 3‑1 in their home opener, a strong start to the season at Kauffman Stadium. But shortly after the win, the organization added to the positive news with an encouraging update on one of their injured players.
"We anticipate INF/OF Michael Massey will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with Omaha (AAA)," the Royals wrote on X.
Massey has been sidelined since mid-March after suffering a left calf strain during spring training, landing him on the 10‑day injured list to begin the year. Getting him into game action at the Triple-A level is a significant step toward his return to the big-league roster.
The 28‑year‑old has spent his entire career with Kansas City, carving out a role as a versatile utility piece capable of playing both second base and left field. He was drafted by the Royals in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft and has developed into a reliable presence in their lineup, though his value has always been more tied to his defense than his bat.
Over the course of his career, Massey has posted a .243 batting average with a .667 OPS, 36 home runs and 137 RBI, numbers that paint the picture of a below average offensive player.
He is not much of a factor on the bases either. That said, he made a strong case for himself during spring training before going down, slashing .364/.417/.962 across eight games to show he was ready to contribute.
The question now is how much of a role awaits him upon his return. The Royals significantly upgraded their outfield this offseason, adding Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte to the mix, which figures to squeeze Massey’s opportunities. Exactly how his role is defined once he is healthy remains to be seen.
What is not in question is that getting another depth piece back is a welcome development for Kansas City. Massey brings positional flexibility that will be valuable for manager Matt Quatraro, and having him available gives the Royals more options as the season progresses.
He will look to make the most of whatever opportunities come his way when he returns, starting with proving himself healthy and sharp during his rehab assignment in Omaha. For a team looking to return to the MLB postseason, every piece matters.