The Kansas City Royals bullpen took a hit on Friday when reliever Hunter Harvey was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a Grade 1 strain of his right teres major muscle. Though the strain is considered mild, Harvey will stay in Kansas City to begin his rehab while the team embarks on a 10-day road trip.
Harvey, 30, had been stellar early in the 2025 season, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings over six outings, allowing just one hit, striking out seven, and issuing no walks. However, he reported discomfort in his shoulder/armpit area while warming up on Thursday. An MRI later confirmed the strain.
“It looks like it’s on the mild side, so hopefully it’s just a short stint,” said manager Matt Quatraro, “but he’s on the IL regardless.”
To fill Harvey’s spot, the Royals called up right-hander Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha. Cruz made an immediate impact, throwing a clean inning in Friday’s 7-0 loss to the Guardians, showcasing a 98 mph fastball and a sharp slider. Quatraro praised Cruz’s confidence and versatility, noting he can handle multiple roles in the bullpen.
Harvey had been a key piece in a dominant late-inning trio with Carlos Estévez and Lucas Erceg, helping the bullpen allow just one earned run over 17 2/3 innings to start the season. With Harvey now sidelined, the Royals will rely more heavily on Estévez, Erceg, and others like John Schreiber, Angel Zerpa, and Daniel Lynch IV, who is riding a 27 2/3-inning scoreless streak dating back to last season.
“There’s confidence in the depth we have,” Quatraro said. “We’ll adjust to the matchups.” Harvey will be re-evaluated next week as he begins recovery.
