The Royals activated Loftin (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Loftin is not in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Toronto. The 26-year-old utility man has slashed .216/.254/.378 with three home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, one stolen base and a 4:18 BB:K across 118 plate appearances this season. Loftin figures to lose playing time after the Royals' acquisitions of Randal Grichuk and Mike Yastrzemski.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Moves past illness
Rotowire
Loftin (illness) played three innings at third base and went 1-for-2 in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers in Cactus League play.
Jonathan India drew the start at third base, but Loftin was available off the bench and made his return to action for the first time since Thursday, when he was forced out of a game against the Guardians after coming down with an illness. Now that he's healthy again, Loftin will look to close the spring on a high note with the hope of securing a reserve role on the Royals' season-opening 26-man active roster.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Nabs steal
Rotowire
Loftin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.
Loftin has gone just 4-for-41 (.098) with a 5:10 BB:K over his last 14 contests. The versatile infielder got the start at third base for the second game in a row after CJ Alexander was at the hot corner for the two previous contests. The Royals are limiting Michael Massey to designated hitter to ease him in after another back injury, but once he's able to play the field, Loftin's usage is like to decrease. Loftin is slashing just .223/.322/.282 with one home run, one steal, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 122 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Could be on outs for everyday role
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Loftin had started in each of the Royals' last six games and served as the club's leadoff hitter in two of those contests, but playing time may be harder to come by for him after Kansas City brought back Michael Massey (back) from the injured list Monday. Massey is serving as the Royals' designated hitter Monday, but he should soon resume regular duties at second base, where Loftin had been seeing most of his playing time over the past month.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Hitless out of leadoff spot Sunday
Rotowire
Loftin went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Rangers.
Though Loftin didn't provide any noteworthy production Sunday, he occupied the leadoff spot for the Royals for the second time in four games. While Kansas City hasn't yet settled on a permanent option atop the batting order, manager Matt Quatraro seems to have at least temporarily pulled the plug on the slumping Maikel Garcia as the club's leadoff hitter. With Garcia batting seventh and eighth in the final two games of the series in Texas, both Loftin and Adam Frazier received looks in the leadoff spot, though Loftin's assignment Sunday might have been a byproduct of Frazier missing the game with a thumb sprain. Even if Loftin sets the table for Kansas City again Monday versus Marlins, he may not stick in the everyday lineup for long. Michael Massey (back) is nearing a return from the 10-day injured list and likely to take back a regular spot at second base.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Lifts first big-league homer
Rotowire
Loftin went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Athletics.
Loftin hit his first career homer off Hogan Harris in the second inning, tying the game at 2-2. While Loftin has seen steady run at second base, he entered Tuesday on an 0-for-14 skid that could jeopardize his playing time. He's slashing .253/.351/.304 with 12 RBI, 13 runs scored and no stolen bases over 95 plate appearances this season. Michael Massey (back) began a rehab assignment Tuesday, so Loftin's time in a starting role -- and potentially in the majors -- could come to a close when Massey is ready to return to the Royals.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Idle again
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners.
Loftin will be out of the starting lineup for a second straight day, giving way to Adam Frazier at second base. Loftin had started six of the Royals' previous seven games, but they'll opt for the lefty-hitting Frazier on Friday.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Retreating to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
Loftin had started in six of the previous seven games and looks to have emerged as the Royals' preferred option at second base in the absence of Michael Massey (back), but Loftin will give way to Garrett Hampson at the keystone Wednesday. Since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on May 26, Loftin is hitting .261 with an RBI and a run scored.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Summoned from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
He'll take the 26-man active roster spot of infielder Michael Massey (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. Between the majors and Triple-A level, Loftin has seen time at four different defensive spots (first base, second base third base and left field), so he'll provide Kansas City with some versatility off the bench while he's up with the big club. Most of his starts will likely come versus left-handed pitching.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Nick Loftin: Drives in three in win
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Mets.
Loftin has seen most of his playing time at second base this season, sharing the keystone with Adam Frazier. After logging just two hits and one RBI over his first eight games, Loftin has found his swing a bit with three hits and five RBI across his last two contests. He's batting .250 with six RBI, five runs scored and no extra-base hits or stolen bases through 26 plate appearances. Loftin may drop into a utility role or lose his 26-man roster spot altogether once Michael Massey (back) is activated from the injured list.
