By MATT PIKE
As the Kansas City Royals enter the final month of the 2026 season, and rosters expand from 26 players to 28, the Royals chose to recall two pitchers, and selected the contract of outfielder Drew Waters from Triple A Omaha to to fill out their roster.
Kansas City called up right handed pitchers Nolan Hoffman and Easton McGee, while selecting the switching hitting Waters contract, adding him to the 40 man roster following the release of relief pitcher John Schreiber at the end of August. Waters was designated for assignment and sent outright to Omaha at the end of Spring Training, after Waters batted just .188 with a home run and four RBIs, striking out eight times.
In Omaha this season, Waters played in 98 games, batting .251 and hitting 12 home runs, 22 doubles, two triples, while driving in 49 runs and striking out 101 times. He slugged .420 and had an OBP of .312, walking 32 times, and also stole 17 bases. The Royals opted to go with the familiar Waters, but following the conclusion of the Triple A season on August 20th, could potentially look at calling up a future outfielder such as Gavin Cross or Carson Roccaforte, two players having stellar seasons in Omaha.
Kansas City also recalled McGee to the bullpen. McGee has spent one stint with the major league club already this season, pitching four games from the bullpen, throwing 5.1 innings and giving up seven runs on 11 hits, two home runs, while striking out six and walking three, boasting an ERA of 11.81 in his short stint. With the Storm Chasters in Omaha, McGee has not faired much better, in 10 outings throwing 14 innings and giving up 19 runs, 17 earned, on 22 hits with 17 strikeouts and four walks, an ERA of 10.93. McGee could also be a short recall, with Tony Gonsolin making rehab appearances in Omaha after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, meaning his debut with the major league club could be just around the corner.
Hoffman will be making his Kansas City debut when he first comes out of the bullpen. Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at the MLB Trade Deadline, Hoffman was designated for assignment when the Phillies acquired Brooks Raley from the New York Mets. In his time in Philadelphia, Hoffman pitched three games in relief for the major league club giving up six hits and two runs in 6.2 innings with two strikeouts and three walks. In Triple A Lehigh Valley, he threw 30 games, touting a 1-4 record with five saves, giving up 20 runs, 18 earned, on 38 hits with 40 strikeouts and 18 walks.
Since joining Omaha, Hoffman has pitched in nine games, holding a 1-1 record, giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits, with 14 strikeouts and eight walks in 8.2 innings. Hoffman might also be a short term move, with Kansas City native John Means also working his way back from injury, being moved from High A Quad Cities to Triple A Omaha today. Means is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. In two rehab appearances for Quad Cities, Means gave up three runs on five hits in three innings, while striking out one and walking one. Means was activated from the 60 day injured list, but there is no indication if he will make it to the major league club this season.
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