Kansas City’s new right fielder, Alex Rios, has been diagnosed with a fracture in his left hand and is out indefinitely after being hit by a pitch from Twins reliever J.R. Graham on Monday.
Rios came to the Royals via free agency as the replacement for Norichika Aoki, signing a one-year, $11 million contract following a poor, injury wrecked season with the Rangers.
He managed just four homers and a .398 slugging percentage in 131 games last season, but the Royals were hoping he still had some gas left in the tank at age 34 and Rios was off to a good start with nine hits--including a homer--through seven games.
Speedy part-timer Jarrod Dyson figures to see a lot more action in the Royals’ outfield with Rios out. Dyson, who frequently entered last year’s playoff games as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, is a career .257 hitter with a .336 slugging percentage. However, he does a decent job getting on base and once there he has 50-steal speed.
