Mears (shoulder) threw a bullpen Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Mears has been on the injured list since May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement, with his progression halted June 16 after a bullpen session reignited the same soreness and pinching feeling that initially landed him on the shelf. The right-hander is now getting back on track in rehab and came out of Saturday's session feeling good, according to Royals manager Matt Quatraro. Provided no further setbacks ensue, Mears is likely to embark on a rehab assignment in the near future before returning to the big-league club. On the year, he owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Playing catch again
Rotowire
Mears (shoulder) received an injection and began playing catch again Monday, MLB.com reports.
Mears threw a bullpen June 16 and was on the right track in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement, but the 29-year-old came out of the session dealing with the same soreness and pinching feeling that landed him on the shelf in the first place. After receiving an injection in his shoulder, the right-hander is back to throwing and will look to build up in rehab without any further setbacks. Before being placed on the injured list May 29, Mears posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Dealing with setback
Rotowire
Mears (shoulder) was tracking toward a rehab assignment but experienced soreness after his bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Mears appeared to be progressing well in rehab from a right shoulder impingement, but he came out of Tuesday's bullpen session with the same soreness and pinching feeling that landed him on the injured list. The right-hander underwent further evaluation Thursday, and while an updated outlook remains undisclosed, the setback has almost certainly pushed back his timeline for both a rehab assignment and return to the big leagues. Before hitting the shelf May 29, Mears posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Completes bullpen session
Rotowire
Mears (shoulder) threw a bullpen Tuesday and could go on a rehab assignment soon, MLB.com reports.
Mears was placed on the injured list May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement and appears to be progressing nicely in his rehab. With a rehab assignment on the horizon, the right-hander should be back in the big-league bullpen fairly soon, assuming no setbacks. Before being shelved, Mears posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Progressing in rehab
Rotowire
Mears (shoulder) began a throwing progression this week and could progress to a bullpen by the end of the week, MLB.com reports.
Mears was placed on the injured list May 29 with a right shoulder impingement, and this marks the first notable update on his status since then. The right-hander appears to be trending in a positive direction, and if his progression remains on track, he likely won't require much more time on the injured list. Prior to being sidelined, Mears pitched to a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The Royals placed Mears on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right shoulder impingement.
Mears was tagged for three runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout across two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to the Yankees and will now miss at least the next couple weeks. On the season, he owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Strong start to season
Rotowire
Mears allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Cleveland.
Mears delivered a clean eighth inning Tuesday, with a Chase DeLauter walk serving as the only blemish in a scoreless frame that kept the game tied heading into the ninth before a Cleveland walk-off. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears is off to a strong start this campaign with Kansas City, as he's yet to allow a run through five innings while already picking up a win and a hold.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Allows three runs in spring outing
Rotowire
Mears allowed three runs on three hits over one inning in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.
Mears was done in by the long ball, surrendering back-to-back homers to Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio with two outs in the fifth inning. After being acquired by the Royals from the Brewers in December, the reliever has made four Cactus League appearances, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks across four innings, with Monday's outing accounting for much of that damage. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears figures to slot in as a middle-relief option in the Kansas City bullpen for 2026.
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Royals' Nick Mears: Nabs $1.9 million from Royals
Rotowire
Mears agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Mears was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City in December following his best season in the majors, during which he logged a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 56.2 regular-season innings. The 29-year-old will now receive a $937,000 raise from his new club and is expected to begin the new year as a middle reliever for the Royals.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Not included on NLCS roster
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Mears is not on the Brewers' NLCS roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Mears made three scoreless appearances during the NLDS and posted a 3.49 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 46:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings during the regular season, so his exclusion from the NLCS roster comes as a surprise. His spot is being absorbed by Tobias Myers, who will offer the Brewers more length in the bullpen.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Officially activated
Rotowire
The Brewers reinstated Mears (back) from the injured list Wednesday.
Mears will rejoin the Brewers' bullpen following a minimum-length stay on the injured list. The 28-year-old should be a candidate for holds during the final week-plus of the regular season, while most of the save chances will likely go to Abner Uribe until Trevor Megill (elbow) returns. Jose Quintana (calf) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Expected back Wednesday
Rotowire
Manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that he expects Mears (back) to return from the injured list Wednesday, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
Lingering back tightness sent Mears to the injured list in early September, but he now seems to be ready to return to Milwaukee's bullpen without embarking on a rehab assignment. The 28-year-old righty owns a career-best 3.42 ERA and 0.91 WHIP through 52.2 innings on the year, and he'll likely be used in high-leverage situations with Trevor Megill (elbow) is still on the shelf, although Abner Uribe remains the top option for save chances.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Completes bullpen session
Rotowire
Mears (back) threw a 17-pitch bullpen Friday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Friday's session marked Mears' first time throwing off a mound since being placed on the injured list in early September due to back tightness. The 28-year-old is scheduled to throw another bullpen Sunday. He's eligible for reinstatement Wednesday.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Brewers placed Mears on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 2, due to back tightness.
Mears hasn't pitched since he allowed three runs in one inning against the Phillies on Monday, and it's now known he's been dealing with a back injury. The 28-year-old joins Trevor Megill (elbow), Grant Anderson (ankle) and DL Hall (oblique) as Brewers relievers on the 15-day injured list. Milwaukee recalled Carlos Rodriguez from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Earns first save of career
Rotowire
Mears earned the save in the Brewer's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Reds on Saturday despite giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out one batter in the 11th.
With closer Trevor Megill being deployed in the 10th inning, the Brewers called upon Mears to protect the Brewers' three-run lead in the 11th. Mears gave up an unearned run on an Elly De La Cruz sacrifice fly before yielding a solo homer to Noelvi Marte one batter later, but Mears managed to secure the save by getting Matt McLain to fly out to center field. Mears has given up four runs (three earned) over his last two outings and has a 5.59 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 9.2 innings since the All-Star break.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Undergoing tests on back
Rotowire
Mears "wrenched" his back while warming up Friday and is getting imaging, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
The back injury may explain why Mears struggled in his relief outing Friday, as he gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning versus Miami. Though he decided to take the mound after hurting his back, the Brewers are concerned enough about the issue to send him in for testing. Mears has been one of the team's top setup men this season, notching 13 holds while posting a 2.95 ERA with a 34:7 K:BB over 39 innings spanning 44 appearances.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mears (illness) was sent to Triple-A Nashville to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.
Mears got a late start to the season due to an illness he caught during spring training that resulted in some weight loss. He's got his strength back now and should have a good shot to be activated from the 15-day injured list April 8 when first eligible.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Pitching in minors game Monday
Rotowire
Mears (illness) will make an appearance in a minor-league game with Double-A Biloxi on Monday.
Mears will close out spring training having made his last Cactus League appearance March 5, but the fact that he's pitching in minor-league games suggests that he likely won't be ticketed for a lengthy stint on the injured list to begin the season. The right-hander missed out on a spot on Milwaukee's Opening Day roster after falling victim to a stomach bug earlier this month that resulted in him losing nearly 10 pounds and missing several workouts.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Opening Day not guaranteed
Rotowire
Mears (illness) may not be ready for the start of the regular season, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Mears returned to Brewers camp Thursday after spending several days fighting off an illness, losing nearly 10 pounds in the process. He made three appearances in the Cactus League before getting sick, but Hogg relays that it will be difficult for Mears to get all of his necessary work in before the end of camp.
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Brewers' Nick Mears: Back in camp after illness
Rotowire
Mears is back in Brewers camp after battling a stomach bug that caused him to lose nine pounds, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Mears suspects he will need 4-to-5 days in order to regain strength before he's ready to get back on a mound. He's already made three appearances this spring, so he won't be starting from scratch, which should allow the reliever time to ramp back up fore Opening Day.
