September 4: Nola has been outrighted to Triple-A Omaha and Alexander launched, per the transactions tracker of every participant at MLB.com.
August 31: The Royals introduced that catcher Austin Nola and infielder CJ Alexander have been designated for task. The strikes open up roster house for Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman, who at the moment are formally a part of the Okay.C. roster after being respectively claimed off waivers from the Cardinals and Rangers.
Nola signed a break up contract with the Royals throughout Spring Coaching, however the veteran of 5 MLB seasons has but to formally financial institution any large league taking part in time in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign. The Royals briefly known as Nola up in June however he was despatched again to Omaha with out showing in any video games, and Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin have stayed wholesome and dealt with each single inning behind the plate for Kansas Metropolis this season. Accidents additionally value Nola all of April, and he hasn’t supplied a lot offense with solely a .156/.248/.296 slash line over 163 plate appearances in Omaha.
This made Nola expendable, and now Brian O’Keefe and Rodolfo Duran are the remaining catching depth choices at Triple-A. The Royals may conceivably attempt to shore up the catching ranks with one other veteran, or Nola may merely stay with the workforce if he clears waivers. Nola has been outrighted earlier than, so he can choose totally free company if he clears waivers and Kansas Metropolis tries to outright him off the 40-man roster.
Alexander has neither a previous outright task on his ledger, nor the minimal 5 years of MLB service time to reject an outright, so he may simply be optioned again to Omaha if no different groups make a declare. Alexander simply made his Main League debut this season, showing in 4 video games for the Royals and knocking one single in eight journeys to the plate throughout his temporary stint within the Present.
A Twentieth-round choose for the Braves within the 2018 draft, Alexander was acquired by the Royals as a part of the Drew Waters commerce in July 2022. His minor league numbers typically consisted of stable energy however low averages and OBPs previous to 2024, when he has put all of it collectively to hit .303/.352/.554 with 16 homers over 350 Triple-A plate appearances. Within the discipline, Alexander has performed principally third base throughout his minor league profession, with a while at first base and in each nook outfield slots.
Since Alexander simply turned 28, he isn’t precisely an up-and-coming sort of prospect, however might be one other waiver declare candidate if a workforce is searching for some infield depth. He additionally has two minor league choice years remaining, making him a versatile roster piece going ahead.
