Lorenzen's agent, Ryan Hamill, is marketing his client as a two-way player this offseason, with the goal of gaining a two-way roster designation, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The only major league player to qualify for two-way status since it was introduced in 2020 is Shohei Ohtani. A player with the designation does not count against a team's 13-pitcher limit on their 26-man roster, effectively allowing them to serve as a 14th pitcher. Lorenzen's plan is to sign with a club -- likely a non-contender -- and then accrue 20-plus innings as a pitcher and play 20-plus games as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each game), which would meet the necessary criteria for two-way status. Gaining the two-way designation would, in theory, make Lorenzen an attractive trade target for a contending club keen on taking advantage of having an extra pitcher on their roster. Lorenzen has not hit in a major-league game since 2021 and hasn't had more than one plate appearance since 2019, but he boasts a career .710 OPS with seven home runs over 321 plate appearances. He was an effective rotation piece for the Rangers and Royals last year with a 3.31 ERA across 130.1 innings during the regular season.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Makes return over weekend
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Lorenzen (lower body) struck out three and allowed an unearned run on one hit in two innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.
Lorenzen made his final start of the regular season last Wednesday, when he tossed two-plus innings against the Nationals before leaving early due to lower-body fatigue. He made his return to action out of the bullpen a few days later, with the clean appearance assuaging any concerns about his health. He was included on the Royals' 26-man wild-card roster but went unused during the club's two-game sweep of the Orioles.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Removal deemed precautionary
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Lorenzen left his start against Washington on Wednesday as a precaution due to lower-body fatigue.
Lorenzen was activated off the injured list earlier Wednesday after missing the past month with a hamstring strain, so the Royals likely didn't want to push it once he reported discomfort on the mound in the third inning. The 32-year-old's abbreviated outing will presumably mark the end of his regular season, leaving him with a 3.37 ERA and 1.25 WHIP alongside a 94:60 K:BB across 25 appearances (24 starts), and he'll now look to prepare for the Royals' postseason run.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Royals activated Lorenzen (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Lorenzen will rejoin the rotation Wednesday versus the Nationals after missing the last four weeks of action with a strained hamstring. The righty was limited to 1.2 and 3.2 innings in his two minor-league rehab appearances, so he'll likely be operating on a restricted workload in what will be his final start of the regular season.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Making return Wednesday
Rotowire
Lorenzen (hamstring) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Nationals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has been out since late August due to a hamstring strain but will rejoin Kansas City's rotation after a pair of rehab outings. Lorenzen had a limit workload in both rehab appearances and will likely have some limitations Wednesday, which will be his final start of the regular season.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Continuing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lorenzen (hamstring) will continue his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Omaha.
The right-hander gave up three runs over 1.2 innings during his first rehab outing Tuesday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and he'll follow that abbreviated appearance with another start Friday. Lorenzen is working his way back from a Grade 2 hamstring strain he sustained in late August, and it's unclear if he'll require another rehab outing before being activated from the injured list.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Manager Matt Quatraro said Sunday that Lorenzen (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals haven't specified which minor-league affiliate Lorenzen will report to for the rehab assignment. He's recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained in late August, so Lorenzen may need just one rehab outing to get back up to speed, though a clearer timeline for his return from the 15-day injured list will likely emerge once he's completed the start.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Recovering from Grade 2 strain
Rotowire
Lorenzen was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
The Royals placed Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list that same day due to the hamstring strain, which carries a 2-to-3-week recovery timetable. Lorenzen will be able to keep his arm in shape by playing catch while he's on the mend from the injury, but he'll need time for the muscle in his right leg to heal before he's able to step back on the mound for a bullpen session. Alec Marsh was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday to replace Lorenzen in the rotation.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Joining rotation Saturday
Rotowire
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lorenzen will start Saturday's game in Detroit, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After acquiring Lorenzen from the Rangers on Monday, the Royals didn't immediately decide whether the right-hander would slot into the rotation or fill a versatile multi-inning role out of the bullpen. Two days later, the team has made its intentions known with Lorenzen, who will step in as the Royals' new No. 5 starter in place of Alec Marsh, who was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. Lorenzen had started in all but one of his 19 appearances with the Rangers prior to the trade, logging a 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 75:48 K:BB in 101.2 innings.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Role not yet determined
Rotowire
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said Monday that a determination hasn't been made whether Lorenzen will serve as a starter or reliever with his new team, Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reports.
The Royals acquired Lorenzen from the Rangers earlier Monday, sending left-hander Walter Pennington to Texas in exchange for the righty. Lorenzen offers the flexibility to pitch out of the rotation and in the bullpen, and how the Royals choose to deploy him could depend on what other moves the Royals make prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. Eighteen of Lorenzen's 19 appearances with the Rangers in 2024 have been as a starter, with his lone relief appearance coming Sunday after Jon Gray (groin) was scratched from his start without throwing a pitch.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Wins despite command issues
Rotowire
Lorenzen (5-4) allowed a hit and five walks over five shutout innings Friday, striking out four and earning a win over the Rays.
Lorenzen's control was shaky and nearly cost him a scoreless outing when he walked the bases loaded in the fifth inning, but he managed to escape the jam. He's thrown exactly five innings in three straight starts and has walked nine batters over his last two outings. Lorenzen dropped his season ERA to 3.21 with a lackluster 62:40 K:BB through 87 innings. His next start is lined up to be on the road against the Angels.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Handed loss Saturday
Rotowire
Lorenzen (4-4) allowed five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three over five innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Orioles.
Lorenzen gave up a solo home run to Anthony Santander and a grand slam to Heston Kjerstad. This outing ended a few impressive stretches for Lorenzen -- it was the first time in nine starts he allowed more than three runs, and it also marked the first time in his last four appearances that he issued multiple walks. Given his success this year (3.40 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 58:35 K:BB over 82 innings across 14 starts), it's safe to assume this was just a blip against a tough opponent. He'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is projected to be at home versus the Rays.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Takes no-decision Monday
Rotowire
Lorenzen allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Monday.
Lorenzen fared relatively well in the outing, though he was pulled after allowing a leadoff double in the sixth inning having racked up 91 pitches. It was a relatively rare occurrence for the right-hander to get the hook that early -- coming into Monday, he had completed at least six frames in 10 of his 12 starts. Beyond eating up innings, Lorenzen has pitched quite effectively throughout the campaign, accumulating a 3.04 ERA and 1.16 WHIP despite a mediocre 55:31 K:BB through 77 frames.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Strong over seven innings
Rotowire
Lorenzen (4-3) picked up the win over the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out two.
Lorenzen kept the Dodgers' offense at bay for most of the contest and allowed only one extra-base hit on the night, a solo shot off the bat of Andy Pages in the seventh inning. The right-hander was able to get through seven frames for just the second time this season while logging his second win in his last three starts. It also marked the first time in Lorenzen's last eight starts that he didn't walk multiple batters. On the downside, he's posted just a 3:3 K:BB over his last two outings.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Yanked early Friday
Rotowire
Lorenzen yielded two runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings in a no-decision Friday. He struck out one during the loss to the Giants.
Despite facing plenty of traffic on the basepaths, both runs allowed by Lorenzen were solo shots by Wilmer Flores. It was Lorenzen's shortest outing of the year and snapped his streak of four straight quality starts entering Friday. Since coughing up six runs against Oakland on May 8, he's registered a 1.50 ERA over his last five starts, lowering his season number to 3.05 through 59 innings. Lorenzen's next start is currently scheduled to be a road matchup with the Dodgers next week.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Lorenzen was removed from Saturday's game against the Twins due to an apparent injury, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Lorenzen took the mound in preparation to begin the seventh inning, but he was visited by a trainer before exiting the game. He did a good amount of walking around the mound, suggesting that he may have tweaked something in one of his legs, though the Rangers should provide an official update on his injury status in the near future.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Hit hard in second loss
Rotowire
Lorenzen (2-2) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the A's, surrendering six runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.
Seven of the nine hits off Lorenzen went for extra bases, including homers by Shea Langeliers and Brett Harris. The right-hander has had a bumpy beginning to his Rangers tenure, but he's least providing some length and has worked exactly six innings in four straight outings. Lorenzen will take a 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB through 29 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Guardians.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Settles in for win
Rotowire
Lorenzen (2-0) got the win Atlanta on Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings.
All three runs against Lorenzen came in the first inning after he gave up a home run to Marcell Ozuna. After that, Lorenzen was able to get in a nice groove and shut down Atlanta's talented lineup for his second win in as many tries. He's been an excellent addition thus far for a Rangers rotation still working on getting guys back from injury. Lorenzen owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB in 11 innings and lines up for another weekend start against Cincinnati.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Earns win in season debut
Rotowire
Lorenzen (1-0) allowed zero runs on three hits while walking five to earn the win in Monday's 1-0 victory over the Tigers. He struck out four.
Lorenzen struggled with his control (46 strikes on 79 pitches), but a five-inning shutout is about as good of a result as the Rangers could have hoped to get from him in his team debut. He was able to end his night on a high note by induced an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the fifth. The veteran righty signed with the Rangers in late March after coming off a career-high 153 innings split between the Tigers and Phillies last season. He'll likely have a longer leash in his next start with Texas, which is expected to come over the weekend in Atlanta.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Activated for Rangers debut
Rotowire
Lorenzen (neck) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Rangers on Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Lorenzen is set to make his Rangers and season debut with a start Monday in Detroit. While technically on the IL with a neck injury, Lorenzen making three rehab starts had as much or more to do with knocking the rust off after he didn't sign until late March. He held a 6.35 ERA and 13:9 K:BB over 11.1 innings in those rehab outings and doesn't make for a very desirable fantasy start Monday.
