Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has 3 hits in his return from back injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits and drove in two runs for the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in his return from a back injury that cost him 11 games.

The Royals activated Witt from the injured list earlier Tuesday, and manager Matt Quatraro said he would be mindful of Witt's workload in the coming days.

For one night, at least, Witt appeared in fine form.

Batting second, he singled in the first inning, singled again in the third and hit a two-run double in the fifth to give Kansas City a 4-1 lead over Minnesota. He finished 3 for 5 in the Royals' 8-2 win.

“Tough three hits,” Quatraro said. “The two-run double was huge, obviously, to expand there, get a little bit of breathing room.”

Witt said he was eager to return as quickly as possible.

“Even after the first game, I wasn’t feeling great, but I was always wanting to get back in there,” Witt said. “I’m definitely chomping at the bit to put it together and work with the training staff.”

A three-time All-Star, Witt leads the American League with 30 stolen bases. He is batting .283 with 13 homers and 41 RBIs in 95 games.

Before the game, Quatraro said Witt may not be in the lineup every day as he works his way back from the injury.

“A lot of it is going to depend on the volume of the game,” Quatraro said. “We’ll look at game times, and workloads and temperature and all those kinds of things and communicate with him and see how he feels.”

Also Tuesday, Quatraro said right-handers Luinder Avila (5-4, 5.53 ERA) and Stephen Kolek (4-3, 4.50 ERA) would undergo Tommy John surgery this week.

The Royals made several roster moves, recalling right-hander Jose Cuas from Triple-A Omaha and claiming lefty Connor Thomas off waivers from the Athletics. They also designated shortstop Andrew Velazquez and left-hander Matt Strahm for assignment.

Cuas, 32, has a 2.84 ERA in five relief appearances for the Royals this season.

Thomas, 28, was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on July 30 and designated for assignment last Saturday. Before joining the Athletics, Thomas made two relief appearances across two major league stints for Atlanta.

Strahm, 34, is 3-4 with a 7.32 ERA in 41 appearances for Kansas City. Velazquez signed with Kansas City on June 24 and went 1 for 15 in six games.

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Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. scores on a sacrifice fly hit by Salvador Perez during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a fielder's choice hit into by Jac Caglianone during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) and Nick Loftin (12) celebrate after their baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, {t yr4}, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) is doused by Jac Caglianone after their baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, {t yr4}, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates with teamates after their baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, {t yr4}, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NEW YORK (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals All-Star right fielder Jordan Walker was scratched from the starting lineup Tuesday night against the New York Yankees because of right knee inflammation.

Walker was slated to bat second before getting scratched about an hour prior to first pitch. Nelson Velázquez replaced Walker in right field, and designated hitter Iván Herrera was moved up to second in the batting order.

“I’ll find out more when he comes in tomorrow, but just knee inflammation, day-to-day,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said after a 2-0 loss to the Yankees. “Our hope is that he’s good to go tomorrow, but we’ll see what it looks like.”

Walker is hitting .285 with 22 homers and 81 RBIs during a breakout season. He won the All-Star Home Run Derby last month in Philadelphia by beating Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the final round.

The 24-year-old Walker made his major league debut in 2023 and batted .276 in 117 games, but he hit only .211 over the next two seasons. He batted .294 with 22 homers and 74 RBIs in the first half this year and is batting .240 in 18 games since the break.

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St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker catches a fly ball for an out against Chicago Cubs' Michael Conforto during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker watches his RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)