MLB Rumors: Alcides Escobar goes to concussion DL

Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is headed to the concussion DL after being hit with a pitch in the face on Wednesday.

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Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was hit by a pitch in the face on Wednesday when the team was playing the Cleveland Indians. The pitch was thrown by Indians pitcher Danny Salazar to the tune of 96 MPH and hit Escobar right on the earflap. He looked groggy being helped up by trainers in the fifth inning afterwards and eventually began displaying concussion symptoms the same day. Escobar hasn’t played since, but was hoping to avoid the DL. That’s not the case as the Royals announced on Friday that he would indeed be going to the DL, according to Hardball Talk.

The move will be retroactive to Thursday, according to the Kansas City Star, which means Escobar will be eligible to return next Thursday when the Royals will be playing the Indians again. In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled Orlando Calixte from Class AAA Omaha to fill Escobar’s roster spot.

Royals manager Ned Yost said that Escobar looks and feels great, but they don’t want to mess around with concussion symptoms. Probably a good idea considering the Giants first baseman Brandon Belt had a similar issue last year and initially felt fine, before experiencing further concussion symptoms that then lasted for weeks. Belt was hit in the face with a throw by then-second baseman Marco Scutaro during practice.

Yost added his own story of Corey Koskie, the former Brewers third baseman, who hit his head while diving for a fly ball. Koskie suffered a concussion and then never played again. Yost also noted the re-injury possibility after suffering that first concussion, something that Giants catcher Hector Sanchez knows all too well after having more than one last year and eventually not playing to end the year.

The Royals will probably miss Escobar’s defense the most in the week that he’ll be out. He’ll also likely be replaced at the top of the lineup by Alex Gordon. Escobar’s speed at the front of the lineup was his main draw, despite his .653 OPS in 652 games for the Royals.

The Royals are in the middle of a series with the Tigers as both clubs have records near the top of the MLB right now. The Royals took the first game of the series and will be playing three more before continuing their homestand against Cleveland on Tuesday.

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