Loftin (groin) will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rays.
After sustaining a groin bruise late in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox, Loftin ended up sitting out Sunday's series finale. The game off plus Monday's team off day appears to have provided sufficient recovery time for Loftin, who will step back in at third base, where he's been serving as the Royals' primary starter since Maikel Garcia (hand) landed on the injured list. After producing a 1.006 OPS through his first 17 games of June, Loftin went hitless in 14 at-bats over his last four starts before exiting the lineup Sunday.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Dealing with groin bruise
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox due to a groin contusion, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
During Saturday's 2-1 loss, Loftin went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being lifted in the bottom of the ninth inning after being struck by a throw to third base from Daniel Lynch. Loftin indicated he's feeling much better Sunday and will be available off the bench, so the 27-year-old would appear to have a good chance at returning to the starting nine Tuesday versus the Rays.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Career night in win
Rotowire
Loftin went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and four runs scored in Tuesday's 12-5 win over the Rays.
Loftin opened the scoring with a solo blast in the first inning to jump-start a performance in which he tallied four hits and scored four runs, both single-game career highs. The 27-year-old has taken advantage of a recent uptick in playing time, hitting safely in six of his past eight contests and tallying four multi-hit efforts, six extra-base hits and six RBI during that stretch. On the year, he's slashing .264/.358/.448 with three homers, 24 RBI, 21 runs scored and a stolen base across 149 plate appearances.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Awarded seventh straight start
Rotowire
Loftin will start at third base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rays.
Loftin will remain in the lineup for a seventh straight game after going 7-for-22 with one home run, four doubles, three walks, four RBI and two runs across the prior six contests. He's been the main beneficiary of Maikel Garcia (hand) and Bobby Witt (knee) both having missed time over the past week, but Loftin's opportunities could dry up if Witt avoids a stint on the injured list. Garcia already seems to be past his hand injury, as he'll cover shortstop Monday in place of Witt for a second straight game.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Deposits two doubles in win
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Thursday's 14-6 win over St. Louis.
With Maikel Garcia nursing a hand injury, Loftin got the start at the hot corner and ripped a pair of doubles that both left his bat at over 100 mph. His two-bagger in the fourth inning plated a pair of runs. The 27-year-old has been a hit machine of late, logging multiple hits in three of the past four games. On the year, the utility man is slashing .245/.348/.400 with 14 extra-base hits including one homer, 20 RBI and 14 runs scored across 133 plate appearances. Should Garcia continue to be held out or ultimately require a stint on the injured list, Loftin stands to carry the load at third base.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Lifts first homer
Rotowire
Loftin went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Reds.
Loftin provided some insurance with a line-drive, two-run shot in the top of the ninth inning to extend the Royals' lead to 5-2. It marked his first homer of the campaign and sixth career long ball across parts of four MLB seasons. The utility man is hitting just .218 and has primarily operated in a reserve role with 96 plate appearances to date, but Loftin could be in line for increased opportunities at third base if Maikel Garcia (hamstring) requires a stint on the injured list.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Drives three RBI off bench
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a walk in Monday's loss to the Orioles.
Entering for Michael Massey in the seventh inning, Loftin reached safely in all three plate appearances, highlighted by a bases-clearing double as the Royals attempted a comeback in the 12th inning. Recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Monday as the corresponding move for Jonathan India (shoulder) being placed on the injured list, Loftin's positional versatility should help him earn opportunities, though most of his starts are likely to come at second base against southpaws.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Summoned from Omaha
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Loftin is expected to fill a utility role during his latest stint with the Royals, with his call-up corresponding with Jonathan India's (shoulder) move to the 10-day injured list. Capable of playing three infield spots as well as well as the corner outfield, Loftin could end up seeing most of his opportunities at second base, where he'll profile as a potential platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Michael Massey.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Sent back to Omaha
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Loftin will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to Michael Massey (calf), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. The 27-year-old utility player had appeared in four of the Royals' first nine games, going 2-for-9 with a double, two walks and three runs.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Three-hit effort in rout
Rotowire
Loftin went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Twins.
Loftin made an early impact, driving in runs with doubles in the first and third innings. The 26-year-old notched three hits in a game for the first time this season, breaking out of a 1-for-13 skid over his past 10 contests. On the year, he's slashing .209/.282/.361 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored and a steal across 178 plate appearances in a part-time role for the Royals.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Loftin has a .684 OPS in 13 games since the beginning of July and will head to the bench Sunday after starting the first two games out of the All-Star break. Adam Frazier is starting in left field and batting seventh in the series finale at Miami.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Resting for series finale
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Though Loftin will take a seat for the Royals' final game of the first half, he appears to have gained some stability in the lineup. He started each of the prior seven games -- three in left field, three at second base and one at third base -- while going 6-for-25 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and three runs.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Idle for series finale
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
Loftin had started in five of the previous six games, but he went just 2-for-17 with two triples and two walks during that stretch. He'll bow out of the lineup for the series finale, paving the way for Drew Waters to pick up a start in left field.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Picking up fourth straight start
Rotowire
Loftin will start at second base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Loftin will get his fourth start in a row and his second straight at the keystone, filling in for Jonathan India (shoulder). India is expected to be available off the bench Sunday and appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list, but Loftin could instead get playing time in the outfield at the expense of Drew Waters, who has gone 3-for-23 over his last nine games.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Loftin had picked up starts in each of the last three games -- two in left field and one at third base -- while going 3-for-11 with a solo home run and a double, but he'll be back on the bench for the first contest of the twin bill. With the Royals calling up top prospect Jac Caglianone from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Loftin's opportunities to make starts out of the corner outfield could become more limited moving forward.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
The 26-year-old is taking the roster spot vacated by Hunter Renfroe, who has been designated for assignment. Loftin sports a .295/.451/.468 slash line with four home runs, 12 steals and a 22:39 K:BB over 40 Triple-A games. He's primarily been used at third base by Omaha this year but has also seen action at first base, second base and left field, and he could find opportunities around the diamond on a Royals club that's starved for offense.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Heads back to minors
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Loftin was recalled this past weekend and didn't see any action during his brief time with the big club. He will return to a regular role with Omaha.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Loftin (wrist) will start at third base and bat fourth in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Loftin was a late scratch from the lineup prior to Sunday's contest due to wrist soreness, but he appears to be feeling better after a few days of rest. The 26-year-old has fared well in his pursuit of an Opening Day roster spot, going 6-for-11 with three RBI and two runs scored across six spring games.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Battling wrist issue
Rotowire
Loftin was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to right wrist soreness.
Loftin was penciled to bat fifth as the designated hitter but will instead sit out at least one game due to the wrist injury. The 26-year-old is competing for a utility role in spring training after he posted a .518 OPS in 57 regular-season games last year.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Sitting again Sunday
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Loftin is on the bench for a second straight game after starting the previous three games. Maikel Garcia will again shift to the hot corner while Michael Massey starts at second base.
