Once an undrafted free agent, Walter Pennington gets big-league shot with KC Royals

Walter Pennington has received his long-awaited call to the big leagues. On Friday, the Kansas City Royals promoted Pennington from Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals have looked for relief help this season and Pennington, 26, is the latest reliever to get a chance in the majors.

And, if things break right, Pennington could make his MLB debut against his childhood team: the Colorado Rockies.

“I grew up here and I was dreaming to be a professional baseball player,” Pennington said. “It all started here at this stadium, and now I’m making it come true.”

On Friday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Rockies at Coors Field. Pennington revealed that he will have around 50 family members in attendance.

“My wife was first,” Pennington said of his first phone calls. “She just broke down. This is something that we have been dreaming of our whole lives. From undrafted to going to college here and high school, it’s been a wild ride.”

Pennington posted a 2.35 ERA in 32 appearances with Triple-A Omaha. He registered 76 strikeouts and 19 walks in 53 ⅔ innings. This season, Pennington has limited opponents to a .172 batting average.

The Royals signed Pennington as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 MLB Draft. He impressed the organization after four collegiate seasons at the Colorado School of Mines.

Over the years, Pennington worked through the Royals’ minor-league system. He began in rookie ball and elevated through multiple levels. In 2022, Pennington also had a stint with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

Pennington reached Triple-A Omaha last season and shined with his strikeout ability. This year, he is averaging 12.74 strikeouts per nine innings and owns a 35.7 strikeout percentage, per FanGraphs.

“Everybody is so happy to see him here,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s had such a successful season that he has merited every bit of this, and to be able to do it at home is extra special. Hopefully it goes as smoothly as it possibly can for him.”

The southpaw will bring another dynamic to the Royals bullpen. In spring training, Pennington struck out six consecutive batters in his first two appearances. He finished with 16 strikeouts in 7 ⅓ innings and utilized his cutter and slider to keep hitters off balance.

“He continues to put the work in,” Royals director of player development Mitch Maier said in spring training. “He really understands what he needs to do individually, who he is and what allows him to be successful.”

The Royals currently have three lefties in Sam Long, Will Smith and Angel Zerpa available in the bullpen. Pennington will get a chance to carve out a role as the Royals navigate a three-city road trip before the All-Star Break.

“He’s been really good against lefties and he has been good against righties as well,” Quatraro said. “He can provide length and, you know, he is very versatile. So we will use him however we best see fit to win a game.”

In a corresponding move, KC sent reliever Carlos Hernandez to Triple-A Omaha. He allowed three earned runs in 1 ⅔ innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Pennington joins a long line of Royals prospects to debut this season. He follows CJ Alexander, Will Klein and Matt Sauer (a former Rule 5 Draft pick who returned to the New York Yankees).

Royals reinstate Adam Frazier from injured list

The Royals also got a key veteran back in the fold. On Friday, KC reinstated infielder Adam Frazier from the 10-day injured list.

Frazier was sidelined with a right thumb sprain. He appeared in one rehab game with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Thursday.

“He’s going to be in there just as we used him before,” Quatraro said. “He will play the outfield and he will play second. Maikel (Garcia) and (Nick) Loftin will do the majority of the time at third. Frazier will pinch hit and pinch run just as he was before.”

The Royals sent Alexander back to Triple-A Omaha. He appeared in four games and drew a handful of starts. He produced a .125 batting average and struck out three times in eight at-bats.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals transferred reliever Dan Altavilla to the 60-day injured list. He is sidelined with a right oblique strain that occurred on June 19 against the Oakland Athletics.