Royals’ Maikel Garcia suffers injury scare during Athletics game

The Kansas City Royals will have to finish Thursday’s contest against the Athletics without Maikel Garcia. He suffered a lower-body injury early in the matchup and was immediately removed from the game.

Reports indicate that the 26-year-old third baseman pulled up while running the bases and grabbed at his hamstring, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The Royals moved Nick Loftin from right field to third base, while John Rave subbed in at right field.

“Maikel Garcia pulled up as he was rounding third base in the first inning,” Rogers reported. “Grabbed his hamstring. Didn’t look good. Nick Loftin is moving from right field to third base for the top of the second inning.”

For now, the severity of the injury is unknown. The Royals will conduct further evaluation and will announce Garcia’s status at some point. Until then, Kansas City will continue its final contest of a four-game series against the Athletics.

Injuries have been the story for the five-year veteran this season. Thursday’s matchup was just his 73rd game of the campaign, as Garcia dealt with a left-hand muscle strain in mid-June. He was initially expected to return in a timely manner, but experienced a setback that forced him to miss all of July. The Royals just removed him from the IL on August 17.

After his one at-bat on Thursday, Maikel Garcia has recorded 76 hits, three home runs, and 32 RBIs, giving him a .266 batting average and .321 OBP. His fielding has been a bright spot for the Royals this season thanks to his .973 fielding percentage while committing just five errors.