Hochevar (shoulder) announced Monday that he's retired from the MLB, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Although Hochevar initially hoped he'd be healthy enough to throw in the big leagues again, he's found it impossible to pitch without pain following multiple surgeries. Hochevear last played for Kansas City in 2016, accruing a 3.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 40 strikeouts over 37.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Hochevar's (shoulder) agent, Scott Boras, said Tuesday that his client isn't ready to retire and is hopeful to pitch again in the majors, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

Hochevar hasn't appeared in the big leagues since July 21, 2016 and went unsigned last season while recovering from surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that continues to plague the right-hander. Specifically, Boras said that Hochevar is still dealing with the loss of sensation in his arm, a concerning sign now that the 34-year-old is more than 18 months removed from surgery. With no timetable for a full recovery, Hochevar shouldn't be expected to resurface in affiliated ball anytime soon.

Hochevar's 2017 option has been declined by the Royals, making him a free agent, the Kansas City Star reports.

The Royals reportedly have interest in bringing Hochevar back, but for significantly less than the $7 million he would have been due under the option. Hochevar, the top pick in the 2006 first-year player draft, has pitched well out of the bullpen in recent seasons but comes with significant health concerns. He's had Tommy John surgery and missed the final two months of 2016 after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery.

Hochevar (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Friday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

This was a procedural move to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for prospect Hunter Dozier. Hochevar was already ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery earlier this month, but with any luck, he should be good to go for spring training.

Hochevar (shoulder) underwent thoracic outlet surgery Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Hochevar underwent the procedure in St. Louis on Tuesday and will now likely be shut down for the next 2-3 months before setting out on a rehab program. While recovery times can extend up to six months, the 32-year-old is expected to be ready for Spring Training next season.

Hochevar (shoulder) will likely require surgery to deal with his thoracic outlet syndrome, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Hochevar reported numbness in his fingers recently and was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition caused by compression of a neurovascular bundle in the shoulder region. He saw a specialist in recent days and the first diagnosis is season-ending thoracic outlet surgery. The veteran relief man will get a second opinion but it seems highly likely that he'll undergo the knife and will miss the rest of the 2016 season.

Hochevar was placed on the 15-day DL on Thursday, retroactive to July 25, with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Hochevar has been reporting numbness in his fingers recently according to manager Ned Yost and was subsequently diagnosed with the shoulder condition. He is expected to see a specialist in the near future to get a more complete evaluation and figure out a rehab plan. The 32-year-old will be eligible to return from the DL on Aug. 9 but it remains to be seen if he'll be ready by then. Brooks Pounders was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to shore up Kansas City's bullpen in Hochevar's absence.

Hochevar has given up six earned runs in July, more than in any prior month this season.

Since the start of July, Hochevar's ERA has jumped from 2.90 to 3.86. He allowed those six earned runs in just 6.1 innings pitched.

Hochevar threw a perfect seventh inning in relief Thursday, earning his 10th hold.

Hochevar has once again emerged as a dominant force in the Royals bullpen, compiling a 2.82 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 22.1 innings this season. The 32-year-old has been particularly good on the road, where he has not allowed a run since April. Hochevar has mainly been used as a bridge to Kelvin Herrera in the eighth inning and Wade Davis in the ninth, a role that is unlikely to change.

Hochevar (elbow) should be available for Monday's game, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City reports.

The Royals held Hochevar out of Sunday's game due to elbow tightness, but apparently he's OK after a day of rest and could be summoned from the Kansas City bullpen if needed by Royals manager Ned Yost.

Hochevar was unavailable Sunday due to "elbow tightness," the Kansas City Star reports. "It's more precaution than anything else," manager Ned Yost said. "We want to make sure we don't do anything rash."

Hochevar had an issue with his elbow after Friday's outing where he walked two batters. He'll likely be out the next few days to give his elbow time to rest. Hochevar has been outstanding to open the year, notching a 2.61 ERA and 11:3 K:BB in 10.3 innings.

Hochevar struck out one and allowed one hit during a shutout inning against Baltimore on Friday.

Hochevar is touting a 2.35 ERA with a 0.78 WHIP through 7.2 innings in 2016. He is sporting a career-best 11.74 K/9 early on this season while posting a career-best 1.17 BB/9 on the other end of the spectrum. Even though it has only been nine appearances, the 32-year-old looks as good as ever, holding down one of the middle relief roles for the defending World Series champions.

Hochevar has a 2.57 ERA this spring with five strikeouts in seven innings. He's set to be a key member of the bullpen this season, the Kansas City Star reports.

Hochevar had a 3.73 ERA and strong 8.7 K/9 last year in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He could have a more high-profile role this year in the setup corps for closer Wade Davis.

The Royals have activated pitcher Luke Hochevar from the 15-day disabled list, the team announced on Thursday. To make room for him, the Royals optioned left-hander Brandon Finnegan to Double-A.

Hochevar missed the entire 2014 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was quite dominant in 2013, when he recorded a 1.92 ERA over 70 1/3 innings while pitching out of the Royals' bullpen. 

The Royals will look for Hochevar to bolster what is already a very deep bullpen. They just got closer Greg Holland back from the disabled list, and other pitchers like Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Ryan Madson have helped the Royals' relief core pitch to a colletive 1.57 ERA this season.

For his part, Hochevar is eager to get back to a big-league mound, according to MLB.com

Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar, recovering from Tommy John surgery, could to rejoin the team this weekend in Detroit, according to the Kansas City Star. Hochevar missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing the operation in March, but pitched very well in 2013 before going down with the injury.

Royals short reliever Luke Hochevar is knocking on the door in his quest to return to the team after a month-long rehab assignment following Tommy John surgery.

"He's getting closer," Ned Yost told the Kansas City Star.

Hochevar, who was brilliant in 2013 before going down last year, tossed a scoreless inning Tuesday for Triple-A Omaha. He is slated to pitch two innings Friday, one inning totaling no more than 25 pitches Tuesday and the same Thursday before the Royals will determine if he's ready to join them.

Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar gave up two hits, striking out one batter in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. Hochevar did not allow a run or walk in his one inning pitched.

Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday night with Triple-A Omaha, according to MLB.com. Hochevar is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2014, and isn't expected to come off the disabled list until sometime in May.

Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar (elbow) will pitch for Triple-A Omaha during his rehab assignment, according to The Kansas City Star. Hochevar, who is coming off Tommy John surgery in 2014, isn't expected to come off the disabled list until sometime in May.

"I think that to be able to come up and to be ready at the big-league level, I think there’s a couple steps that I still need to take," Hochevar said. "The majority of it has to do with recovery and how I’m responding to my outings.

"Even now, I’m pitching with two days in between. That’s got to get moved to one day in between. And then be able to respond, be able to repeat my stuff. And then that’s got to be able to be moved to back-to-back days, and be able to repeat my stuff.

"For instance, in spring, I went from three days to two days. It felt great. But with that adjustment, it took me doing that two times to have my stuff reciprocate. I felt fine. There’s no issues there. It’s just a matter of getting my arm back in shape and getting it used to bouncing back."

Ryan Madson, Franklin Morales and Paulo Orlando earned the last two spots on the Royals' Opening Day roster. 

The RHP Madson was a non-roster invitee who earned a spot with his spring performance. Madson had a 3.00 ERA in nine games, with two saves. 

LHP Morales was also a non-roster invitee. He went 2-0 in the spring with a 6.55 ERA. 

Orlando, an outfielder, earned the last position player spot. 

To set the roster, the Royals sent LHP Brian Flynn to Omaha and placed LHP Tim Collins and RHP Luke Hochevar on the 15-day DL.