KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. has spent his much of his short life around the major leagues. For the first time Wednesday, he was the star attraction at the ballpark.The son of retired pitcher Bobby Witt was introduced as the highest-profile new member of the Royals' farm system. Witt, who turns 19 on Friday, was the second overall pick in last week's draft."It's a blessing for me to be a part of this organization," Witt said. "They really respect their players and their staff. I was really impressed with the respect they had for me."Witt has been compared favorably to some of the top shortstop prospects in recent history, including Alex Rodriguez. He said he looks forward to trying to live up to that lofty billing."That motivated me," Witt said. "You can write all that stuff down on paper, but until I perform the way they did, I'll never be satisfied. I've got to go out there and play my game. Maybe one day I'll be there."The Royals have not announced where Witt will make his... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

In 1990, the Atlanta Braves drafted Chipper Jones with the No. 1 overall pick, and he accomplished something no other player has done after being selected first.Not Ken Griffey Jr, not Alex Rodriguez, not Joe Mauer.Jones was both an MVP and a World Series champion with the team that drafted him. Plenty of other No. 1 overall picks have accomplished one or the other — but not both.Darryl Strawberry, Darin Erstad, Pat Burrell, Luke Hochevar and Carlos Correa won the World Series with the team that drafted them, but they didn't win an MVP as well. Jeff Burroughs, Griffey, Mauer and Bryce Harper were MVPs for the teams that picked them, but they couldn't bring those franchises a World Series title.On the pitching side, David Price was picked No. 1 by Tampa Bay and won a Cy Young Award, but his World Series championship didn't come until after he was with Boston.Jones was part of Atlanta's title team in 1995, and he earned MVP honors four years later. He also went into the Hall of Fame last... [More]

RHP Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in August 2016) was out since late July.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After taking the San Francisco Giants to Game 7 in the 2014 World Series and winning the 2015 World Series, the Kansas City Royals failed to make the 2016 postseason.Playing into November in back-to-back seasons, manager Ned Yost said impacted the Royals "a lot" as far as injuries this season."These guys have lost almost three months of recovery and conditioning time over the last two years, which is important for a professional athlete," Yost said. "It takes a toll on you sooner or later."The Royals' injury list was lengthy, with closer Wade Davis having two stints on the disabled list with forearm tightness, right-handed setup Luke Hochevar requiring surgery, outfielder Lorenzo Cain limited to 103 games with a strained left hamstring and wrist inflammation and Chris Young going on the disabled list with a forearm strain.The most crippling injuries, however, could not be blamed on the wear-and-tear from the past two seasons. On May 22, left fielder Alex Gordon and third... [More]

RHP Luke Hochevar was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list Friday. He has been on the DL since July 28 with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome in his right arm and hand and underwent surgery last month.

RHP Luke Hochevar, who went on the disabled list Thursday with numbness in his right arm and hand, was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome by a specialist Friday and is likely headed for season-ending surgery. He will get a second opinion Saturday before making a decision. "This is the worst-case scenario," Hochevar said. Hochevar was 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA before going on the disabled list.

RHP Luke Hochevar was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, retroactive to July 25, due to swelling and numbness in his right hand. "The last couple of times up, his hand has swelled up like it is falling asleep," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "He's been losing feeling in his fingers. We've been talking to the doctors and hoped a couple of days off would help." Hochevar will see a specialist who specializes in thoracic outlet syndrome while the team is in Texas.

RHP Luke Hochevar was placed in the 15-day disabled list for symptoms consistent with thoracic outlet syndrome.

RHP Luke Hochevar, who was held out of the last two games with minor tightness in his pitching elbow, was available for Monday's game, according to manager Ned Yost. Hochevar did not wind up pitching during the Royals' 2-0 loss to the Nationals.

RHP Luke Hochevar pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, striking out Ian Kinsler and retiring Justin Upton on a fly out. Hochevar has allowed only one of 11 inherited runners to score this season. "He just comes in with good stuff and throws strikes with it and changes speed," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "His fastball, he can spot very, very well. He's just done a great job for us."

RHP Luke Hochevar surrendered the tying run in the seventh by allowing a triple and a double with one out. Hochevar's rocky outing came a night after he struck out two of the three batters he faced in the Royals' 3-2 victory Tuesday against Houston. Entering the game, he led the majors with eight inherited runners and was tied for the major league lead with five appearances.

RHP Luke Hochevar worked a scoreless sixth inning in relief and recorded his first multi-strikeout game of the season and first since Sept. 18, 2015. Hochevar, who had two strikeouts, has pitched in five of seven games for the Royals and has not allowed a baserunner in each of his last four appearances.

RHP Luke Hochevar was 1-1 with a 3.73 ERA in 49 relief appearances last season after sitting out 2014 following Tommy John surgery. He had a 1.38 ERA in 23 home games. The Royals are anticipating Hochevar will be even better in 2015, two years removed from the elbow surgery.

RHP Luke Hochevar pitched two hitless and scoreless innings in Game 5 of the World Series and picked up the victory over the Mets. Hochevar, who missed the 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery, threw 10 2/3 scoreless innings in his first postseason venture.

Hochevar struck out the side in a scoreless tenth inning in Saturday's victory over the White Sox.

Hochevar is just another cog in the machine that is the Kansas City bullpen, as his current role leaves him little room to make a fantasy impact. The 31-year-old righty owns a 3.60 ERA on the season, with 22 punch-outs over 20 frames.

Hochevar (elbow) was activated from the DL prior to Thursday's game, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports.

He will take Brandon Finnegan's place in the Royals' bullpen and only figures to add another dominant arm to what may be the best bullpen in baseball. Hochevar was able to touch 95-96 with his heater during his rehab, and while he almost certainly won't notch any saves, his ratios and strikeouts could be usable in deeper leagues.

Hochevar (elbow) is tentatively scheduled for a mid-May return, the Kansas City Star reports.

Hochevar is now 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, but has opened the season on the disabled list while continuing to work through the final stages of the recovery process. When he does return, the right-hander will likely begin at Triple-A Omaha, where the club hopes he'll gradually build up arm strength. Kansas City still plans on getting use out of the reliever in 2015, but the exact date of his projected call up to the majors remains a mystery.

Hochevar (elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL Sunday.

Hochevar is expected to be out until at least may, so the move to the disabled list will free up a roster spot for another bullpen arm. The right-hander is just over a year removed from Tommy John surgery, but Kansas City will continue to take it slow with his recovery. He could prove to be another valuable weapon out of the pen down the stretch.

Hochevar (elbow) will start the season on the disabled list and may be out until at least May, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

The news doesn't come as much of a surprise as manager Ned Yost had already mentioned Hochevar was likely to begin the year on the DL, but it was confirmed Tuesday. While it's possible the 31-year-old will rejoin the team at some point in April, Yost indicated he was more hopeful for a return some time around the start of May.