Kyle Wright makes long-awaited rehab start with KC's Double-A affiliate

In another big step toward a long-awaited return to the big leagues, Royals right-hander Kyle Wright began a rehab assignment Friday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Wright struck out four and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, two walks and a balk over four innings in Game 1 of the Naturals’ doubleheader in Springfield, Mo., against the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate.

It was Wright’s first recorded game for an affiliate since September 2023, when he was pitching in the Majors for Atlanta. That injury-riddled season for him eventually ended with right shoulder surgery, and the Royals traded for him in November of ‘23 knowing it would take him over a year to get back to the mound.

After rehabbing for the entire 2024 season, Wright showed up to Spring Training this year healthy. Because it had been such a long layoff, the Royals took Wright’s progression slow, and he was delayed because of a mild right hamstring strain in mid-February, too. But by early March, he was back throwing bullpens. On March 20, Wright faced hitters for the first time with a live BP in Surprise Stadium. On April 10, he pitched in his first game -- two innings in an extended spring training game.

Wright stayed in Arizona building up to four innings before he headed to Springfield on Friday.

“Now to actually get in a game where there are people in the stands, umpires calling the game full-on, pitch clock enforced, all that stuff -- it’s exciting,” Wright said in a phone interview with MLB.com on Thursday. “I haven’t done that since September 2023. It’ll be good to get going a little fast and work on slowing myself down and get to do the things I’ve been working on. Hopefully it all takes care of itself.”

Wright has been pleasantly surprised with his velocity and the way his stuff has been moving as he’s gotten back on the mound. He said in his first start in Arizona, a two-inning outing, he hit 95 mph -- higher than his expectations were for his first start. Since then, Wright said he’s been anywhere from 90-94 mph with his fastball and typically averages 93 mph.

And he’s been happy with the command of his curveball, changeup and cutter along with the four-seamer. Now he’s eager to see how it fares against better hitters in Double-A and get feedback from the swings and reports.

“I’ve been able to work on a lot of things that've made me feel good in games,” Wright said. “I feel like I'm out there competing, I don’t think about my shoulder at all, and I haven’t been able to do that in a long time. Getting into the game and throwing more intense pitches, I think it’ll be good for me [to] see how my shoulder bounces back from that.

“So far, we’ve done a really nice job of that, and this will be another good test for it. Hopefully we just keep going in the right direction.”

A pitcher has a maximum of 30 days that he can be on a rehab assignment before he must be activated or optioned. Wright will likely need that entire time or more to make sure he’s ready before joining Kansas City.

He’s being stretched out as a starter, but as he gets closer to being able to return, the Royals will assess where their biggest need is for him and how he fits. Even coming back from the injury, Wright will bring a proven track record whenever he does return; the 29-year-old posted a 3.19 ERA with Atlanta in 2022 and led the Majors with wins (21). He pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in relief en route to the Braves’ World Series win a year before.

That’s the pitcher the Royals were thinking about when they acquired him in ‘23. Now Wright is closer than ever to joining them this summer.

“I’ve been very present for the most part [during the rehab process],” Wright said. “That’s what I need to continue to be. One step at a time. All I’m worried about now is this outing [Friday]. But you do think ahead a little bit because it’s fun to envision yourself back in the big leagues.

“... I trust the Royals a lot. They've been fantastic for me. Even trading for me when I was hurt, that takes a lot of guts and trust. They’ve treated me so well through this. And whatever role I find myself in, wherever I can step in and be of help, I’ll do it. It’s been fun to watch this team.”