The Kansas City Royals have selected top infielder prospect Nick Loftin's contract from Triple-A Omaha, the team announced Friday.
Kansas City also placed right-handed pitcher Brady Singer on the paternity list and designated right-handed pitcher Joe Barlow for assignment. The Royals recalled outfielder Edward Olivares and right-handed pitcher James McArthur up from Triple-A to fill out the roster.
Loftin will make his MLB debut Friday against the Boston Red Sox, starting at designated hitter and batting out of the No. 8 spot.
According to MLB Pipeline, Loftin is the No. 5 prospect in the Royals' farm system.
Loftin, who was an All-Big 12 honoree at Baylor, came off the board in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He joined the Royals for spring training in 2021 – as well as 2022 – but he still spent nearly three full seasons in the minors before getting promoted for real on Friday.
In 82 games with Triple-A Omaha this season, Loftin was batting .270 with 14 home runs, 56 RBI and a .788 OPS. Loftin hit .272 with a .789 OPS over the course of his minor league career, all while averaging 22 home runs, 97 RBI and 25 stolen bases per 162 games.
Loftin has spent the majority of his time at second and third base in 2023, but he has also logged innings at first base, shortstop, left field, center field and designated hitter in Triple-A.
MLB.com graded Loftin's tools as 55 field, 55 arm, 55 run, 50 hit, 40 power and 45 overall.
Active MLB rosters now expand to 28 in September, which is a departure from the previous rule that every player on a team's 40-man roster was able to get called up for the month.
Still, that created enough space for Loftin to get a taste of the big leagues with a month left in the season.
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