Maier gets the call to KC

Mitch Maier on Thursday was recalled by the Royals from Triple-A Omaha, taking Alex Gordon’s place on the 25-man roster. Gordon, who missed two games earlier this week, was placed on the disabled list with a labral cartilage tear. He will undergo surgery of Friday, at which point a timetable for his return to Kansas City should be announced.

Mitch Maier was actually summoned to Kansas City earlier in the week, missing the O-Royals’ game in Round Rock on Monday night. When the Royals determined they didn’t need to make a roster move, the 26-year-old outfielder was returned to the Triple-A club in time for Tuesday night’s game.

Maier usually plays center field for the O-Royals, but he has been playing right field since April 10, the day the Royals placed their own right fielder, Jose Guillen, on the disabled list – a clear sign the club anticipated the need to make this move. With the injuries to both Gordon and Guillen, Maier could get significant playing time with the big club.

A former first rounder (2003), Maier has played parts of two seasons with the major league club. Last year he hit .286/.316/.319 in 91 at bats for the Royals, and he carries a career .269 batting average into his latest stint in the big leagues.

After hitting .297 with three homers and 17 RBIs during spring training, Maier was reassigned to the O-Royals, where he has spent the majority of the last two seasons. He got off to a great start this season, hitting .370/.419/.667 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 27 at bats.

Maier’s departure from Omaha means both Tommy Murphy and Cory Aldridge are likely to see more time in the outfield, and if he has an extended stay in Kansas City, the Royals could feasibly promote someone like Jose Duarte from Double-A to fill the gap.