Athletics' Richard Lovelady: Could be in mix for saves
Rotowire
Lovelady (0-3) allowed one earned run on a walk and no hits while striking out one across 0.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Mariners.
Lovelady entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score knotted at 2-2. He retired two of the three batters he faced but was pulled for Garrett Acton, who was on the mound when the winning run crossed the plate. Lovelady began the season in the minors, but he has pitched well since being recalled, turning in 13 scoreless outings in 16 appearances. It's difficult to decipher the Athletics bullpen due to their lack of wins and standout talent, but Lovelady could see some save chances moving forward -- particularly while Zach Jackson (elbow) is sidelined.
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Athletics' Richard Lovelady: Recalled from Triple-A
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Lovelady was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Oakland claimed Lovelady off waivers from Atlanta on Thursday, and now he'll jump into the bullpen Saturday afternoon against the visiting Mets. Hogan Harris has been optioned.
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Braves' Richard Lovelady: Headed to Atlanta
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Atlanta acquired Lovelady from the Royals on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations. He was then optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Lovelady failed to make the Royals' Opening Day roster and is now headed to a new organization. He'll provide Atlanta with some left-handed relief depth at Gwinnett.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Lovelady was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Lovelady had an excellent spring, pitching eight innings without allowing an earned run or a walk while striking out 10. Despite the strong showing, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports the Royals want Lovelady to work on building up arm strength after missing most of 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. If the southpaw can continue his strong pitching into the minor-league regular season, it shouldn't be long before he's an option for the major-league roster.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Contract selected by KC
Rotowire
The Royals selected Lovelady's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Lovelady sat out most of 2022 while he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, but he returned to game action in September with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Omaha. The left-hander had a 3.48 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB across 20.2 innings prior to the injury in 2021 and could be a bullpen piece for Kansas City to open next season.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Returns from Tommy John surgery
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Lovelady (elbow) was reinstated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 60-day injured list Sept. 18 and struck out two over a scoreless inning in his 2022 debut for the affiliate.
Lovelady made a remarkably quick recovery from the Tommy John surgery he required last September, making his return to game action exactly 12 months later. After the strong showing at Northwest Arkansas, Lovelady was bumped up to Triple-A Omaha last week. He struck out four over two scoreless innings between his first two appearances at Omaha.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Back with Royals on MiLB pact
Rotowire
Lovelady (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Wednesday.
He was non-tendered as a move to get him off the 40-man roster due to the fact he will miss the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but Lovelady will opt to stick with the organization through his recovery.
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Richard Lovelady: Let go by Kansas City
Rotowire
Lovelady (elbow) was non-tendered by the Royals on Tuesday.
Lovelady underwent Tommy John surgery in September and is set to miss the entire 2022 campaign, so the Royals opted not to tender him a contract.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Lovelady (elbow) announced Wednesday that he recently underwent Tommy John surgery, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.
Lovelady was initially expected to avoid surgery for the sprained UCL in his left elbow, but that is no longer the case. Given the recovery timeline involved with the surgery, it's unlikely the lefty pitches in the majors during 2022. He should have plenty of time to be ready for the 2023 season, barring any setbacks in the lengthy recovery.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Lovelady (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Lovelady was already expected to miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his left elbow in late August, and the move to the 60-day IL frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old hasn't undergone Tommy John surgery and is instead going through a rest and rehab program, so he should be able to pitch next season if all goes well in his recovery.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Expected to avoid surgery
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Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Sunday that he expects Lovelady to avoid surgery and treat the sprained UCL in his left elbow with rest and rehab, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Kansas City reports.
Injuries of these sort often involve Tommy John surgery, but Lovelady appears likely to avoid a procedure that would sideline him through the 2022 season. Though Moore didn't say so, Lovelady is still expected to miss the remainder of the 2021 campaign, but the lefty will be sent in for further tests before the Royals provide an updated timeline for his return, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Dealing with UCL sprain
Rotowire
The Royals placed Lovelady on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a UCL sprain in his left elbow.
The injury comes at a tough time for Lovelady, who has posted 7.1 straight scoreless innings while logging four holds in that span. The Royals haven't revealed the severity of Lovelady's sprain, but since he's dealing with structural damage to his elbow, it's possible that his season could be over, and Tommy John surgery may even be in the cards. Tyler Zuber was called up from Triple-A Omaha to take his place on the roster.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Earns first career save
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Lovelady worked a perfect ninth inning Sunday, striking out two batters and earning a save over the Cardinals.
Lovelady had seen only one save chance in his career prior to Sunday's outing, a blown opportunity back in 2019. He quickly rolled through the ninth inning, striking out Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong on the way to his first career save. The 26-year-old southpaw owns a 4.50 ERA through 12 innings this season.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Pitches 1.1 innings
Rotowire
Lovelady allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings versus Detroit on Saturday.
The left-hander hasn't seen much work lately, as Saturday was just his second appearance since the All-Star break. Lovelady has allowed runs in three of his seven outings this year, although he's managed to pick up two wins. Overall, he has a 5.87 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through 7.2 innings in a low-leverage role.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Earns win Friday
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Lovelady (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk and struck out one in two scoreless innings, earning the win in Friday's 7-4 win over Minnesota.
Lovelady left Wednesday's contest after he was hit by a comebacker in the abdomen. The southpaw ultimately didn't miss much time. He relieved starter Brady Singer to start the fourth inning and it was Lovelady who was credited with the win. The 25-year-old reliever is likely to remain in a low-leverage role.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Hit by comebacker, exits
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Lovelady exited Wednesday's game against the Red Sox after being struck by a comebacker on the abdomen in the bottom of the seventh inning, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. He fanned one while retiring all five batters he faced.
After Lovelady breezed through four hitters, J.D. Martinez smoked a liner off his abdomen. He was able to throw Martinez out at first base but was forced to exit with trainers. The club figures to provide a further update on the left-hander later Wednesday.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Called up as expected
Rotowire
Lovelady was recalled as expected from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Lovelady spent a day on the active roster in mid-April but didn't get into a game. Wade Davis (forearm) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Promotion awaits
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The Royals are expected to recall Lovelady from Triple-A Omaha ahead of Tuesday's game in Boston, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Lovelady is poised to rejoin the Royals for the first time since mid-April. He allowed just one run on five hits and four walks while striking out nine in 8.1 innings over his seven appearances after coming off Omaha's 7-day injured list in early June. The 25-year-old lefty will likely be ticketed for lower-leverage work out of the Kansas City bullpen.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Back from MiLB IL
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Triple-A Omaha reinstated Lovelady (undisclosed) from its 7-day injured list Sunday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Lovelady's injury had prevented him from pitching since he was optioned to the minors April 17. The 25-year-old lefty has made 26 appearances out of the Kansas City bullpen over the past two seasons, logging a 7.71 ERA over 21 career innings.
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Royals' Richard Lovelady: Returns to alternate site
Rotowire
Lovelady was returned to the Royals' alternate training site Saturday.
Lovelady was on the Royals' roster as the 27th man for their doubleheader versus the Blue Jays, but he didn't make an appearance. The 25-year-old southpaw could be called up again should the Royals need depth in the bullpen.
