Renfroe exercised his $7.6 million player option for the 2025 season Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The veteran outfielder began the season as the starting right fielder for the Royals, though his role shrunk after the acquisitions of Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman. Renfroe's primary shortcoming was a lack of power, as he posted a career-low .163 ISO across 424 plate appearances. Pham is entering free agency, which could give Renfroe a shot to start again entering 2025.
Renfroe is not in the lineup for Tuesday's Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Orioles.
Renfroe started eight of the final 12 games of the regular season in right field (five against lefties, three versus righties). However, with Vinnie Pasquantino back in action and limited to designated-hitter duties, the Royals are going with Tommy Pham in right field for Game 1 versus righty Corbin Burnes.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Reaches 15-homer mark
Rotowire
Renfroe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-2 win over Atlanta.
Renfroe has homered in two of his last three games, giving him 15 long balls on the year. It's his lowest power output in any season in which he's played at least 100 games. The veteran outfielder has added 52 RBI, 44 runs scored, one stolen base, 18 doubles and a .229/.297/.392 slash line over 120 contests. He enters the postseason in a timeshare with Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier for playing time in right field.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Lifts 14th homer
Rotowire
Renfroe went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Nationals.
Renfroe tied the game at 1-1 with his second-inning blast. The veteran outfielder has gone 8-for-44 (.182) with two homers and four RBI over 14 games since he returned from a hamstring injury. He's now at a .230/.300/.389 slash line with 14 homers, 51 RBI, 43 runs scored, one stolen base and 18 doubles through 118 contests. With Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier also in the mix for playing time in right field, Renfroe is likely to remain in a part-time role to close out the regular season.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: On bench again
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants.
Renfroe will sit for a second straight contest, with Adam Frazier filling right field Saturday. Renfroe has one hit in his last 16 at-bats and is slashing .232/.303/.387 on the year.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
Renfroe started the previous three games but will sit Friday amid a 1-for-16 slump. Adam Frazier will shift to right field while Maikel Garcia starts at the hot corner.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Losing work
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Renfroe will hit the bench for the third time in four matchups with a right-handed starting pitcher (Jared Jones). The 32-year-old is slashing a modest .237/.308/.397 over 393 plate appearances on the season and looks like he could have to settle for a part-time role down the stretch.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Renfroe isn't in Kansas City's lineup Saturday versus the Pirates.
Renfroe will get a breather Saturday after going 0-for-4 in Friday's victory, snapping a four-game hitting streak that began when he returned from the injured list. While Renfroe sits, Adam Frazier will patrol right field while Tommy Pham serves as the DH.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Renfroe will head to the bench for the series finale in New York after he had picked up starts at either designated hitter or in right field in each of the past three contests while going 3-for-12 with a solo home run. Tommy Pham will cover right field Wednesday, while Adam Frazier gets a turn as the Royals' DH.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Pops homer in loss
Rotowire
Renfroe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 10-4 loss to the Yankees.
Renfroe has gone 4-for-12 with three RBI over three games since he returned from a hamstring strain he suffered in late August. The outfielder has made all three of his starts in right field since his return, pushing Tommy Pham to left field or designated hitter more regularly. For the year, Renfroe is at a .240/.313/.405 slash line with 13 homers, 50 RBI, 42 runs scored and a stolen base across 107 contests.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Royals activated Renfroe (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Renfroe has been shelved since late August with a right hamstring strain but got through a rehab game this week with no issues. It's unclear how the Royals will make all the pieces fit, as they acquired Tommy Pham, Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman since Renfroe was last active. He will likely start against most lefties, but it's possible he could ride the pine against some righties.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Renfroe (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.
Renfroe went through a full workout Tuesday and will now test himself in a game setting. The 32-year-old could require just one rehab contest, as he is poised to rejoin the Royals' active roster this weekend if all goes well. Renfroe has been shelved since late August with a right hamstring strain.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Could return this weekend
Rotowire
Renfroe (hamstring) hit on the field and ran the bases at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, MLB.com reports.
The Royals have yet to decide whether Renfroe will go out on a rehab assignment, but regardless, he is tracking toward a return from the 10-day injured list as soon as this weekend, just a few days after he's first eligible for activation. Renfroe has seen virtually all of his playing time this season in right field, but with Tommy Pham recently being added to the roster and with Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) out for the season, the Royals could consider using Renfroe some at first base, where he has a bit of experience.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Royals placed Renfroe on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right hamstring strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Renfroe had been dealing with general soreness of late, but he tweaked his hamstring during Saturday's 11-2 loss to the Phillies. Quatraro characterized Renfroe's injury as a low-grade strain, though that doesn't necessarily guarantee that the veteran outfielder will be ready to go when he's first eligible to return from the IL on Sept. 4. The Royals recalled outfielder Tyler Gentry from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Slugs 12th homer
Rotowire
Renfroe went 1-for-2 with two walks, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Phillies.
His third-inning shot off Taijuan Walker capped a five-run frame for Kansas City. Renfroe snapped a 16-game homerless drought in the process, but he's been heating up of late, starting five of the last six games and going 8-for-19 (.421) with a 3:3 BB:K. Renfroe's .713 OPS on the season is identical to his 2023 performance, but with just 12 homers in 103 contests, he has some work to do if he's going to reach the 20-homer mark for the fourth straight year and the seventh time in his career.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: On bench Monday
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Renfroe broke out of his 0-for-24 slump during Kansas City's three-game set against Cincinnati, going 3-for-9 with a double and a run scored across two starts. However, the 32-year-old will retreat to the bench Monday as Adam Frazier fills right field.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Absent from starting nine
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
Renfroe will get the night off to clear his head after going 0-for-24 in his last six games. Adam Frazier will bat seventh and fill right field.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Idle Tuesday
Rotowire
Renfroe is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Renfroe is hitless in his last 20 at-bats while striking out eight times during that stretch, and he'll take a seat Tuesday. In his place, Adam Frazier will bat seventh and play right field.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Sitting down Saturday
Rotowire
Renfroe isn't in the Royals' lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.
Renfroe has had a tough time at the plate as of late, going 0-for-16 with six strikeouts over his last four games. He'll get a day to regroup while Garrett Hampson starts in right field and bats eighth.
