The Kansas City Royals homestand hit a wall of bad news before the final pitch. Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. missed another game due to back tightness. Outfielder Jac Caglianone left Tuesday’s contest with right shoulder soreness. Starter Stephen Kolek faces a second opinion after an MRI. The injury list is growing fast.
Witt’s Back and the Caglianone Exit
Bobby Witt Jr. was out of the lineup once again because of back tightness. Manager Matt Quatraro said the star shortstop’s back was “still pretty stiff” before the game. “It’s going to be day to day,” Quatraro said. “We have to see — obviously, we need to get the spasm to relax first, and then figure out if it’s something that he can play through and how long that’ll be until he can.” The team plans to be cautious with their best player.
Jac Caglianone had a rough night in right field. A diving catch attempt in the fifth inning seemed to shake him up. He grimaced as he got up but waved off teammates to stay in. An inning later, he was replaced and left the game entirely. The Royals later confirmed he exited with right shoulder soreness. He seemed to favor the shoulder as he stood up. That is a bad look for a rookie trying to prove himself.
Kolek Needs a Second Look
Stephen Kolek’s status remains unclear after Monday’s evaluation. He received an MRI and met with team doctor Vincent Key. Now it seems Kolek will need a further evaluation. “He’s going to get a second opinion after meeting with Dr. Key yesterday,” Quatraro said. “So we don’t really have any further update right now.” The Royals have not scheduled the second opinion yet. Quatraro said a specific date for that exam is still being worked out. Waiting on a second opinion usually means the first doctor was worried.
Bunting Identity and Garcia’s Slump
Despite the injuries, Nick Loftin’s work in Monday’s win could signal a shift. Loftin replaced Witt at shortstop in the fifth inning. He singled in the seventh and has been asked to bunt more frequently. “That’s our identity,” Loftin said. “We’ve worked on bunting for — how long have I been a Royal? Since 2020? Ever since I stepped foot in this organization, we’ve been working on bunting.” Loftin fouled off his first attempt but then pushed a fastball toward first base. He knew he needed to get on top of the pitch.
However, the team faces struggles elsewhere. The Athletic puts Kansas City dead last in their latest power rankings. They name Maikel Garcia as the “player each team needs to be an All-Star in the second half of the season”. A season ago, Garcia had a legitimate case for the AL’s Silver Slugger award at third base. A season later, no such case exists. The third baseman has seen his hard-hit rate go from 45.1 percent in 2025 to 41.3 percent in 2026. He’s still elite at not chasing or whiffing, and his squared-up percentage is among the best in the league. Yet, that hasn’t translated to results. His lack of production is part of the reason why the Royals have gone from potential contenders to a team in limbo.
The Royals must get healthy fast. Losing Witt and Kolek hurts the core. Garcia needs to find his touch. The homestand is supposed to be a chance to build momentum. Instead, it looks like a battle just to stay upright.
