The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Loftin fell shy of an Opening Day roster spot despite a 1.052 OPS during Cactus League play. He will play regularly at Omaha while awaiting another chance at the big-league level.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Moves past illness
Rotowire
Loftin (illness) played three innings at third base and went 1-for-2 in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers in Cactus League play.
Jonathan India drew the start at third base, but Loftin was available off the bench and made his return to action for the first time since Thursday, when he was forced out of a game against the Guardians after coming down with an illness. Now that he's healthy again, Loftin will look to close the spring on a high note with the hope of securing a reserve role on the Royals' season-opening 26-man active roster.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Loftin (wrist) will start at third base and bat fourth in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Loftin was a late scratch from the lineup prior to Sunday's contest due to wrist soreness, but he appears to be feeling better after a few days of rest. The 26-year-old has fared well in his pursuit of an Opening Day roster spot, going 6-for-11 with three RBI and two runs scored across six spring games.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Battling wrist issue
Rotowire
Loftin was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to right wrist soreness.
Loftin was penciled to bat fifth as the designated hitter but will instead sit out at least one game due to the wrist injury. The 26-year-old is competing for a utility role in spring training after he posted a .518 OPS in 57 regular-season games last year.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Sitting again Sunday
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Loftin is on the bench for a second straight game after starting the previous three games. Maikel Garcia will again shift to the hot corner while Michael Massey starts at second base.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Nabs steal
Rotowire
Loftin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.
Loftin has gone just 4-for-41 (.098) with a 5:10 BB:K over his last 14 contests. The versatile infielder got the start at third base for the second game in a row after CJ Alexander was at the hot corner for the two previous contests. The Royals are limiting Michael Massey to designated hitter to ease him in after another back injury, but once he's able to play the field, Loftin's usage is like to decrease. Loftin is slashing just .223/.322/.282 with one home run, one steal, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 122 plate appearances.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Could be on outs for everyday role
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Loftin had started in each of the Royals' last six games and served as the club's leadoff hitter in two of those contests, but playing time may be harder to come by for him after Kansas City brought back Michael Massey (back) from the injured list Monday. Massey is serving as the Royals' designated hitter Monday, but he should soon resume regular duties at second base, where Loftin had been seeing most of his playing time over the past month.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Hitless out of leadoff spot Sunday
Rotowire
Loftin went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Rangers.
Though Loftin didn't provide any noteworthy production Sunday, he occupied the leadoff spot for the Royals for the second time in four games. While Kansas City hasn't yet settled on a permanent option atop the batting order, manager Matt Quatraro seems to have at least temporarily pulled the plug on the slumping Maikel Garcia as the club's leadoff hitter. With Garcia batting seventh and eighth in the final two games of the series in Texas, both Loftin and Adam Frazier received looks in the leadoff spot, though Loftin's assignment Sunday might have been a byproduct of Frazier missing the game with a thumb sprain. Even if Loftin sets the table for Kansas City again Monday versus Marlins, he may not stick in the everyday lineup for long. Michael Massey (back) is nearing a return from the 10-day injured list and likely to take back a regular spot at second base.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Lifts first big-league homer
Rotowire
Loftin went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Athletics.
Loftin hit his first career homer off Hogan Harris in the second inning, tying the game at 2-2. While Loftin has seen steady run at second base, he entered Tuesday on an 0-for-14 skid that could jeopardize his playing time. He's slashing .253/.351/.304 with 12 RBI, 13 runs scored and no stolen bases over 95 plate appearances this season. Michael Massey (back) began a rehab assignment Tuesday, so Loftin's time in a starting role -- and potentially in the majors -- could come to a close when Massey is ready to return to the Royals.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Idle again
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners.
Loftin will be out of the starting lineup for a second straight day, giving way to Adam Frazier at second base. Loftin had started six of the Royals' previous seven games, but they'll opt for the lefty-hitting Frazier on Friday.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Retreating to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Loftin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
Loftin had started in six of the previous seven games and looks to have emerged as the Royals' preferred option at second base in the absence of Michael Massey (back), but Loftin will give way to Garrett Hampson at the keystone Wednesday. Since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on May 26, Loftin is hitting .261 with an RBI and a run scored.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Summoned from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
He'll take the 26-man active roster spot of infielder Michael Massey (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. Between the majors and Triple-A level, Loftin has seen time at four different defensive spots (first base, second base third base and left field), so he'll provide Kansas City with some versatility off the bench while he's up with the big club. Most of his starts will likely come versus left-handed pitching.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Drives in three in win
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Mets.
Loftin has seen most of his playing time at second base this season, sharing the keystone with Adam Frazier. After logging just two hits and one RBI over his first eight games, Loftin has found his swing a bit with three hits and five RBI across his last two contests. He's batting .250 with six RBI, five runs scored and no extra-base hits or stolen bases through 26 plate appearances. Loftin may drop into a utility role or lose his 26-man roster spot altogether once Michael Massey (back) is activated from the injured list.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Secures roster spot
Rotowire
Manager Matt Quatraro informed Loftin that he made the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Saturday.
Loftin will provide cover all around the infield. His best chance for playing time early in the season is at second base, as Michael Massey (back) is set to begin the season on the injured list. Loftin provides a right-handed bench bat for the Royals, so he shouldn't be expected to see more than a short-side platoon role initially. Loftin has hit .325 over 16 Cactus League games, displaying his solid contact-hitting skills.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Swipes first career bag
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and his first MLB stolen base in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Guardians.
Getting the start at second base and batting sixth against Cleveland lefty Logan Allen, Loftin collected multiple hits for the third time in his last four games to boost his slash line in the majors to .359/.419/.538 through his first 43 plate appearances. The 24-year-old's .270/.344/.444 line at Triple-A this year is a better reflection of his talent level, but after going 29-for-35 on steal attempts in the high minors in 2022, he could make some additional contributions in that category over the final days of the season.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Impactful off bench
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the White Sox.
Loftin has hit safely in seven of his nine games so far, and three of them have been multi-hit efforts. He helped the Royals extend their lead with a couple of run-scoring knocks after entering as a pinch hitter for Nick Pratto in the seventh inning. Loftin is batting .345 (10-for-29) with six RBI, six runs scored, five doubles and a triple through 33 plate appearances. He's seeing time primarily at second base and first base, which has led to smaller roles for Pratto and Michael Massey.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Gaining foothold in lineup
Rotowire
Loftin will start at first base and bat eighth in Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
Loftin has now cracked the lineup in four of the Royals' past five games, making starts at three infield spots and designated hitter during that span. Though the Royals may not commit to Loftin as their top option at any one position, the 24-year-old's versatility should allow him to hold down a near-everyday role so long as he continues to swing a hot bat. Through his first three big-league games, Loftin has gone 5-for-10 with three doubles, two walks, three runs and three RBI.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: On base three times in debut
Rotowire
Loftin went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 13-2 win over the Red Sox.
Loftin's MLB debut can be considered a success as he was one of six Royals with multiple hits in the blowout win. The infield prospect slashed .270/.344/.444 with a 13.1 percent strikeout rate and 9.7 percent walk rate over 82 games with Triple-A Omaha this year. With the Royals playing out the string, there should be plenty of chances for Loftin to get accustomed to the majors in September, especially since he boasts defensive versatility.
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Promotion coming
Rotowire
The Royals will promote Loftin from Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old prospect has spent all season with Omaha, slashing .270/.344/.444 with 14 homers and 56 RBI across 358 plate appearances. Loftin has played every position except catcher and right field during his minor-league career, so his defensive versatility could buy him consistent playing time in a Royals lineup that ranks 28th in OPS this season (.686).
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Royals' Nick Loftin: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Royals reassigned Loftin to minor-league camp Tuesday.
The 24-year-old infield prospect reached Triple-A for the first time last year, though he recorded just a .639 OPS over 168 plate appearances while there. His spring results weren't much better, but the Royals will likely keep him in Triple-A for the start of 2023.
