Eric Hosmer has slight tear in rotator cuff

Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has not met expecations this season, batting just .232/.304/.359 with 14 homers and 60 RBI in 152 games. And now he’s been diagnosed with a potentially serious injury.

According to beat writer Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, an MRI taken Saturday on Hosmer’s sore right shoulder revealed a small tear in the rotator cuff. He sufered the injury Thursday in Detroit while diving aggressively for a grounder near the first base bag.

Hosmer hasn’t been ruled out for the remainder of the season, but that seems likely to happen soon.

“We’ll wait a couple of days and reevaluate,” Hosmer said Saturday. “Then we’ll do all of the testing and stuff and see how it feels. I think we’re going to wait until we get back to Kansas City (on Monday), then reevaluate and see what we’ve got.”

The talented 22-year-old hit .293 with a .799 OPS, 19 homers and 78 RBI in 128 games last year in the major leagues and posted gaudy numbers throughout the Royals’ farm system. He has a very bright future.