TORONTO -- Michael Massey is facing another setback as he tries to work his way back to the big leagues this season, encountering a third separate injury since he first hit the 10-day injured list on June 10.
Massey’s back flared up on him again a couple of days ago, manager Matt Quatraro said Saturday, leading the Royals to return the 27-year-old from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. Massey will head to Kansas City and be evaluated by team doctors there to determine the next steps and a timeline to get back on the field.
“Some days, it just flips, and he’s fine to go and power through it like he’s done most of his career,” Quatraro said. “And other times, it takes a little bit longer. So we won’t have any idea until he gets seen and gets a day or two off.”
Massey was first placed on the IL on June 10 with a left ankle sprain. Three weeks later, while on a rehab assignment, he got hit by a pitch on the right wrist and suffered a small, hairline fracture. It was also around that time when Massey fell ill with the flu, so he was returned from his rehab assignment at the beginning of July.
The Royals' second baseman/left fielder made significant progress over the All-Star break and went back on a rehab assignment on July 18. In 11 games -- three with Double-A and eight with Triple-A -- he hit .174 with a .474 OPS. He last played on Wednesday.
This is not Massey’s first time dealing with a back injury. He’s dealt with similar injuries since he was in college at Illinois and was on the IL twice last season with injuries related to back tightness. Quatraro said that Massey’s current back flare-up is “generally the same thing” as the previous back injuries.
It has been a season of struggles for Massey, who began the year in Kansas City but hit just .202 with a .479 OPS across 56 games before he got injured the first time. He was trying to use his time on the IL and rehab assignments to not only get healthy, but also work on his swing, making mechanical changes with his hands, stance and stride in recent weeks. The Royals were hoping for a big contribution from Massey this season after he posted a .743 OPS in 2024.
In order to see those changes translate to the field, Massey is still working to stay on the field.
“Every year has its own challenges,” Massey said two weeks ago, shortly after he began his second rehab assignment. “I think most people probably look at it and say, ‘Man, this has been a tough year.’ The reality is, this is the job we do. You’re playing 162 games, you’re going to get beat up. You’re going to have injuries. There’s a ton of failure in the game. … At this point, I’m just trying to get back and hopefully be able to contribute for the last two months. Really trying to use this time as a positive as well.”