Royals option Mike Moustakas to Triple-A

The Royals have been as patient as they feel they can be, and now they feel like they can take no more.

Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio reports that third baseman Mike Moustakas has finally been optioned to Triple-A. There was talk two weeks ago about moving the offensively struggling third baseman down, but manager Ned Yost persisted that Moustakas just needed more time. Two weeks was apparently enough.

Moustakas has seen his batting average decline since his rookie year number of .263. He hit .242 the following year, but hitting 20 home runs made up for that. This season, however, in 40 games, “Moose” has been hitting just .152/.223/.320. He has slightly better than a 2-to-1 K/BB ratio and has just been falling far below expectations. Moustakas was supposed to be a huge part of an emerging Kansas City offense that also would utilize Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, and Alex Gordon clicking on all cylinders. So far, that just hasn’t happened for the Royals, who sit in third place in the AL Central at 23-23 and are six games behind the Detroit Tigers.

The team will recall Jimmy Paredes in the meantime. A quick Twitter search of Moustakas’ name shows that most everyone is in agreement that the demotion is the correct move. Bowden himself suggests that the lack of major league level pressure will be good for Moustakas and will hopefully get him back on track.