Taylor didn't pitch for the Royals at all in 2024 while dealing with a left biceps injury, although he began a rehab assignment in September and will presumably enter the offseason healthy. The lefty reliever holds a career 4.35 ERA and 155:53 K:BB over 120 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Shifts rehab to Triple-A
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Taylor (bicep) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday and made a one-inning appearance against Toledo, allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk.
Taylor moved his rehab to Triple-A after he gave up one unearned run across three innings over his three appearances at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The lefty reliever has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a left bicep nerve injury, but he looks poised to make his 2024 debut for the Royals at some point over the final two weeks of the campaign.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Beginning assignment
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Taylor (biceps) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday.
Taylor recently began throwing bullpen sessions after missing the entire season due to a nerve injury in his left biceps, and he's now been given the green light to return to a game setting. He'll likely require a handful of rehab outings given the amount of time he's spent on the IL, though the Royals remain confident the 31-year-old lefty will return to their bullpen before the end of the year.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Closing in on live work
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Taylor (bicep) resumed a normal throwing progression in July and appears close to beginning live bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.
Taylor has been on the injured list all season due to left bicep soreness, an injury that cropped up while he was warming up for a March 17 Cactus League appearance. The lefty was later diagnosed with a musculocutaneous nerve injury that kept him from throwing for about four months, but he seems to have avoided any setbacks since he resumed playing catch. The Royals are still optimistic that Taylor can return from the IL before the end of the season, but he'll likely need to start facing hitters within the next week or two for that to be a reality.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Taylor (biceps) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Taylor will now be forced to be out of action until at least late May as he recovers from a left biceps injury. The move was made in correspondence with the Royals' acquisition of right-handed reliever from the Pirates on Sunday.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Goes on injured list
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The Royals placed Taylor on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left arm/biceps nerve injury.
Taylor dealt with back and biceps issues this spring but pitched well when healthy. It's not clear how long the biceps injury might keep the left-handed reliever on the shelf.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Dealing with biceps soreness
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Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that Taylor is currently sidelined by left biceps soreness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
He's receiving treatment and the Royals are still determining what the next steps will be for the left-hander. Taylor has missed much of the last two seasons due to back and shoulder woes. He had been in the mix for an Opening Day bullpen spot, but his status is now cloudy.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Clear for spring games
Rotowire
Taylor (back) is listed as an available pitcher for Saturday's Cactus League game versus the Rangers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Taylor pitched just 17.2 innings last season with the Royals, posting an unsightly 8.15 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB. He was shut down after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in July. Taylor had a couple of good seasons with the Red Sox before injuries wiped out most of his last two campaigns. He'll need a strong spring to compete for a roster spot in the Royals' retooled bullpen.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Avoids arb with one-year deal
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Taylor (back) signed a one-year contract Friday with the Royals, avoiding arbitration.
The deal is worth $1.1 million, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Taylor missed much of the 2023 season due to left shoulder impingement syndrome and a herniated disc in his back, but the Royals will hope that he can return to full health in 2024 and be an effective left-handed relief option.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Royals transferred Taylor (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Taylor underwent surgery last week to repair a herniated disc in his lower back and is without a timeline for his return, but the move to the 60-day IL ensures he won't be available out of the Kansas City bullpen until at least late July. The southpaw reliever had struggled to an 8.15 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 17 appearances for Kansas City prior to being placed on the shelf in late May.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Needs back surgery
Rotowire
Taylor is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a herniated disc in his lower back, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Taylor was placed on the IL in late May due to left shoulder impingement syndrome and suffered this back injury while ramping up his throwing progression. There is no longer a timetable for his return to the Royals' bullpen.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Facing hitters Wednesday
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Taylor (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After throwing a bullpen session Sunday, Taylor will progress to facing live hitters for the first time since landing on the IL in late May. He will likely require a few more throwing sessions and a rehab assignment before making his return.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Hits 15-day IL
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Kansas City placed Taylor on the 15-day injured list Sunday with left shoulder impingement syndrome, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Taylor threw 18 pitches against the Nationals on Saturday, and he allowed two earned runs while giving up three hits and a walk without recording an out. He'll miss at least two weeks with the injury, but shoulder injuries often require a lengthier stay on the injured list for hurlers. Daniel Lynch (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move and will start Sunday's series finale with Washington.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Gives up three runs in loss
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Taylor (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one in one inning, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Tigers.
Taylor gave up a tie-breaking three-run home run to Zack Short in the sixth inning, and the Royals were unable to catch up after that. Through 9.2 innings in May, Taylor has given up 12 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits and seven walks, though he has managed 12 strikeouts. The southpaw has a 7.13 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 26:8 K:BB and one blown save through 17.2 innings overall. With a low-leverage role and poor numbers, Taylor is not on the fantasy radar.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Snags win Wednesday
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Taylor (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning, earning the win Wednesday over the Padres.
Taylor got the last out of the fifth inning and then ran into some trouble in the sixth, but the Royals gained the lead while he was on the mound to give him his first win with the team. The southpaw has had a rough May, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over 6.1 innings. He's at a poor 6.91 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings overall while working in a low-leverage role.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Takes loss as opener
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Taylor (0-1) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out two in one inning Friday, taking the loss versus the Brewers.
An error by catcher Freddy Fermin on a Willy Adames stolen base in the first inning allowed Christian Yelich to deliver an RBI single, and the Brewers never looked back. Taylor has struggled to keep runs off the board -- he's been scored on in five of his 10 appearances this season, resulting in a 6.00 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB over 12 innings. He was used as an opener Friday, but he's mainly been a middle reliever for the Royals, which should be his primary role the rest of the season.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Will get start Friday
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Taylor will serve as the Royals' starting pitcher Friday in Milwaukee, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Taylor has been working out of the bullpen since his promotion from Triple-A Omaha in mid-April and holds an ugly 6.55 ERA through 11 innings. The 30-year-old left-hander will be drawing the start in place of Ryan Yarbrough (head), who landed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week. Because Taylor hasn't covered more than two innings or thrown more than 32 pitches in any of his nine appearances on the season, he'll likely function more as an opener than a traditional starter. Max Castillo could be an option to work in bulk relief behind Taylor.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Joining big-league club
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Kansas City recalled Taylor from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Taylor missed out on Kansas City's Opening Day roster but will now join the big club after spending the first couple weeks of the season with Omaha. The 30-year-old last pitched in the majors during 2021 with the Red Sox and had a 3.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 60:23 K:BB over 47.2 innings.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Among roster cuts
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Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Taylor, Josh Staumont and Richard Lovelady all fell short of making the Royals' Opening Day bullpen. After dealing with a back injury for all of 2022, Taylor will be focused on building up arm strength with Omaha to start the year, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
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Royals' Josh Taylor: Available for spring games
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Taylor (back) will be available to pitch in Saturday's spring training game against Texas, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Taylor missed all of last season due to back issues, but the Royals acquired him from the Red Sox in exchange for Adalberto Mondesi nonetheless. If he proves his health this spring, he could be an effective left-handed reliever for the Royals this season. He recorded a 3.40 ERA in 47.2 innings in 2021.
