Falter allowed seven earned runs in his start against the Yankees on Tuesday.
The Kansas City Royals announced they have designated left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter for assignment on Wednesday morning.
Correspondingly, the Royals have recalled right-handed pitcher Mason Black. The 26-year-old will get another opportunity at the big league level after posting four scoreless appearances for the team in April.
The move comes one day after Falter had his worst outing of the year in a start against the New York Yankees, where he allowed a total of seven earned runs and nine hits in only 2 ⅓ innings of work.
Overall this season, Falter had appeared in only five games as he dealt with an injury. In those outings, Falter allowed 15 earned runs in 9 ⅔ innings, his last two appearances being his only starts. A left elbow inflammation injury had held him out from most of the season, as he was activated from the injured list on May 16.
Falter was acquired by the Royals from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the 2025 trade deadline, a time where the Royals were in need of pitching depth ahead of an attempt at a postseason push. Instead, that depth they relied on him for was plagued, as two injuries held him back from consistent appearances in his tenure.
In the 2025 season, Falter logged just 12 innings and allowed 15 earned runs in his four appearances. In Kansas City, he never found the same success that he saw in his stint with the Pirates.
Prior to being traded, Falter had been a very productive starter in posting a 3.73 ERA over 113 ⅓ innings. Though never flashing strong strikeout stuff, his efficiency stood out as an arm that the Royals could use for their pitching depth.
As a result of his lack of consistency on the mound and a riddled injury history, Tuesday’s start against the Yankees may have forced the Royals to make a quicker decision on Falter. In his brief outing, Falter faced 16 Yankees batters and allowed a whopping average exit velocity of 100.6, en route to a forgettable outing.
Falter was not happy with the results and with his role, presumably. Postgame, he voiced his frustrations of the Royals’ lack of handing him a set role to the media, claiming it tampers with both his game and mental prep.
Unfortunately for the Royals, the trade for Falter did not work out for them on both ends. Left-handed reliever Evan Sisk, one of two players the Royals traded to the Pirates in exchange for Falter, has posted a 1.61 ERA this season out of the Pittsburgh bullpen.
