The Royals released Lacy (elbow) on Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The No. 4 overall pick in 2020 First-Year Player Draft, Lacy has thrown a total of 80 innings in professional ball and hasn't pitched in a game since 2022 due to multiple injuries. Lacy is currently still recovering from a second Tommy John surgery and it's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in a game. The lefty holds a career 7.09 ERA and 114:83 K:BB over parts of two seasons in the minors and peaked at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2022.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Lacy announced Tuesday via his personal Instagram account that he underwent Tommy John surgery, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lacy didn't pitch at all in 2023 while dealing with an undisclosed injury, and this latest injury will wipe out all of his 2024 campaign as well. The first-round pick from 2020 has logged a total of 80 innings in affiliated ball in his career. He has yet to pitch above Double-A and will be in his age-26 season by the time he recovers from this latest surgery.
Lacy is not ready to be assigned to an affiliate yet, but he has been throwing side sessions at the Royals' spring training complex, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.
Considering Lacy's issues with throwing strikes and repeating his delivery, the Royals probably want him really dialed in before they send him off to Double-A or High-A for this pivotal developmental year. The fourth overall pick in 2020, Lacy has a career 7.09 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 80 professional innings.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Reinstated from injured list
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Lacy (back) was reinstated from the 7-day minor-league injured list Thursday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Lacy has been sidelined since mid-April due to back tightness, but he began a rehab assignment in June and posted a 9.00 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in eight innings over four appearances with the Royals' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate. The 23-year-old is now back to full health and will return to the mound at Double-A Northwest Arkansas as the starter during Friday's game.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Kicks off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lacy (back) has given up three runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out three across 3.2 innings through his first two appearances with the Royals' rookie-level Arizona Complex League since beginning a rehab assignment Tuesday.
Lucy has been on the shelf for nearly two months due to a back injury and has shown considerable rust since initiating his rehab assignment. In addition to walking more batters than he's struck out, Lacy has also hit a pair of batters with pitches.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Dealing with back tightness
Rotowire
Lacy (back) hasn't pitched since April 17 due to back tightness.
Lacy's injury wasn't expected to cost him much time, and Double-A Northwest Arkansas remains optimistic he'll be back soon, but it's concerning given he's missed over three weeks. The southpaw allowed six runs (five earned) with a 13:5 K:BB across 9.2 innings in his first two starts of the season before he was sidelined.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Lots of strikeouts, too many walks
Rotowire
Lacy has posted a 4.96 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 72:34 K:BB across 12 starts (45.1 innings) for High-A Quad Cities this season.
The 2020 MLB Draft's No. 4 overall pick has offered a mixed bag of results in his pro debut, as the strikeout rate is as impressive as the walk rate is troubling. It doesn't appear that Lacy is primed to rocket through the minors, as it'd be nice to see him turn in better results than this as a 22-year-old in High-A. Aside from a stellar outing on July 3 (six innings, nine strikeouts, one walk, one run), Lacy hasn't shown many signs of improving his control, which will be key to him advancing through the organization and ultimately to the majors. There's still plenty of upside here, but it's starting to look like we won't see him in Kansas City until 2023.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Beginning pro career at High-A
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Lacy will begin the 2021 season at High-A Quad Cities, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
The canceled minor-league seasons last year prevented Lacy from making his professional debut after being selected fourth overall in the 2020 draft. The Royals clearly see him as a fairly advanced pitcher, as the 21-year-old will begin his pro career just three steps away from the big leagues. He could push for a major-league debut sometime next season if he looks good in the minors.
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Royals' Asa Lacy: Receive camp invite
Rotowire
Lacy received an invitation to the Royals' major-league spring training Friday.
The 2020 first-round pick joined the team's alternate training site in August and will now join big-league camp in his first taste of spring training. Lacy has yet to play professionally since the minor-league season was canceled last year, so he'll likely begin the 2021 campaign at rookie ball or the lower minors.
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