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Kansas City Royals Place Free Agent Addition On Injured List

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Kansas City Royals Place Free Agent Addition On Injured List


The Kansas City Royals placed pitcher Michael Wacha on the injured list on Sunday with a “small, non-displaced” fracture in his left foot, per manager Matt Quatraro. Lefty Daniel Lynch IV will be called up from Triple-A to take Wacha’s spot in the rotation.

There is not yet a timetable for Wacha’s return to action. But Quatraro told reporters that his absence will be determined by how the soreness in his foot progresses. Wacha will continue working out his arm by taking a knee while playing catch. However, a full return to action will depend on how he can manage the pain in his foot.

Kansas City Royals Place Michael Wacha On Injured List

Kansas City signed Wacha this winter to a two-year, $32 million deal as part of a rotation restructuring. The offseason aggression has paid off, as the Royals have ridden a strong pitching rotation, including Wacha, to great success this season.

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Wacha is not an ace, but he is providing quality mid-to-back of-the-rotation innings that Kansas City expected. The 32-year-old has pitched better this season than his overall numbers suggest. Wacha has posted a 4.24 ERA (97 ERA+) in 68 innings across 12 starts. He doesn’t strike many out but relies on limiting walks and inducing poor contact.

Plus, his numbers would look better if not for a below average strand rate (68.7 percent). In other words, when he leaves games with runners on base, Royals relievers fail to strand them more often than not. The relievers gave up the run scoring walks/hits, but the runs get charged to Wacha.

Daniel Lynch IV

With Wacha on the injured list, the Royals will turn to a former top prospect in Lynch. Part of the reason why Kansas City added so many veteran pitchers this winter is due to a failure to develop young arms. Lynch represents one of those failed pitching prospects.

Entering this season, Lynch has struggled to a 5.18 ERA and in 51 starts across three big league seasons. The organization wanted to win in the majors again and just could no longer promise innings to young pitchers that just were not improving.

And while he’s looked good in three MLB outings this season (a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings), Lynch has not pitched that well in the minors. In nine starts, Lynch produced a 4.76 ERA in 45 1/3 innings with below average strikeout rates. The 27-year-old has shown promise with intriguing stuff but has not put it all together in a consistent manner.

That said, it seems that the Royals expect Wacha to spend minimal time on the injured list. Though the organization likely still views its former 34th overall pick in positive light, Lynch just needs to provide league-average production until Wacha return.

Main Photo Credits: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports





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Kansas

Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm

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Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.

According to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 22-year-old Antoine R. Gillum was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

His sentencing stems from a June 2024 incident in a metro gas station. KCPD investigators contacted Gillum inside and found that he had discarded a 9 mm pistol in an aisle between the merchandise. He also discarded a pill bottle containing multiple illegal substances: cocaine base, oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone.

Officers searched the vehicle Gillum had arrived in and found approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.

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On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It’s a part of ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

No further information has been released.



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Deadly 4-car crash kills 2 people, injures others in Kansas City

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Deadly 4-car crash kills 2 people, injures others in Kansas City


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A crash near a busy highway killed two people and injured two others.

Emergency crews responded to the crash at U.S. 71 Highway and Meyer Boulevard around 12:40 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

When crews arrived they determined four cars were involved in the crash.

Police are investigating how the crash happened.

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Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City

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Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City


LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) – As Kansas women’s basketball prepares to enter the postseason at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, they’ll be led by two Overland Park natives who have been two of the most electrifying players to watch in the country this year.

Junior guard S’Mya Nichols and freshman forward Jaliya Davis have played integral roles in the recent growth of the program. Both cite the desire to help grow the Jayhawks into something special as reasons for committing there.

“Where we wanted to take Kansas women’s basketball, I wanted to be a part of that growing evolution,” Nichols told KCTV5.

“We [my family] were also really big Jayhawk fans. We came to a lot of games,” Davis said about her childhood.

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The two were both 5-star recruits in high school, and their commitments marked historic recruiting victories for the KU women’s basketball program.

First came Nichols in the Class of 2023, picking KU over Tennessee and Oklahoma.

“I genuinely wanted to go to Kansas,” she said.

Then Davis became the highest-rated player to ever commit to KU as part of the Class of 2025.

“When you go back to S’Mya Nichols being a local, Kansas City, Overland Park product, a nationally respected player, Jaliya was really the next one that was very important for the Jayhawks to keep home,” said head coach Brandon Schneider.

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Now as a junior, Nichols has established herself as one of the most consistent scorers and physical guards in the nation.

But it’s the Shawnee Mission West’s alum’s leadership that defines her legacy in Lawrence.

“The team leader, the quarterback,” Coach Schneider described Nichols. “I think oftentimes the player that everybody looks up to off the court.”

“I mean it means everything. Knowing that I’m important to the team, and that they see me as that as well,” said Nichols with a smile.

Both Nichols and Davis were recruited by the Jayhawks for years, going all the way back to seventh grade.

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“Well, we offered her in middle school,’ Coach Schneider said with a laugh about Davis.

“Oh he put in a lot of work,” laughed Davis. “I mean, obviously, seventh grade, that’s a long time.”

It was that dedication from Coach Schneider that led her to choose the Jayhawks over Texas, South Carolina, Baylor, and Oklahoma – where he dad played ball.

“I think it really was the relationship we had and grew. He was always there, every single one of my games,” Davis said about Schneider.

After just one practice as teammates, Nichols voiced a big belief about Davis into existence – and it’s probably going to come true.

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The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.(KCTV5)

“I saw her first practice, and I sent her a text, and I’m like ‘I think you can win Freshman of the Year’, and I still stand by that,”

Davis is averaging 21.0 points per game, and has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for eight weeks in a row. That sets a power conference all-time record.

“I think it’s really cool. I mean obviously it’s a team effort, they’re always looking for me,” Davis said about her historic accomplishment.

“Just a phenomenal stretch of basketball for her, and so well deserving,” said Coach Schneider.

Now these two homegrown stars are at the forefront of a late-season push to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Right now, CBS Sports bracketology has them as a ‘First Four Out’ team.

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But a few wins in the Big 12 Tournament could certainly help seal their invite to the big dance.

“Obviously we’re not in the position that we were hoping to be in, but I think we can make the most out of it, and get to where we want to be,” Davis said about the opportunity at hand in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

The Overland Park kids are especially fired up about starting the postseason in their own backyard.

“I have a big support system. So I bet my family will take a big chunk of that area during that tournament,” Davis laughed.

“I remember being younger, and the College Basketball Experience is right next door. So I felt like at one moment that was the big stage, when I got to play my little AAU tournaments in there. And then all of a sudden I’m literally in T-Mobile Center on the actual big stage, so it’s pretty cool,” said Nichols.

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The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.



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