CLEVELAND (AP) -Four years after winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award, infielder Angel Berroa was designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
The Royals recalled outfielder Joey Gathright from Triple-A Omaha to take the roster spot of Berroa, who hit only .091 (1-for-11) with one RBI in nine games after being called up May 14.
“We need to give our offense a little boost,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said. “Joey can’t do it by himself, but we think he can help.
“Angel’s out of options, so we couldn’t just send him down.”
The Royals have 10 days to try and make a trade for Berroa or have him clear waivers before they could send him to the minors.
Berroa, 29, had one of the best rookie seasons in Royals history in 2003. He hit .287 with 17 homers and 73 RBIs and edged out outfielder Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees by four votes to win the rookie award.
Berroa got off to a slow start the next year and was sent back to the minors for 11 games. Overall in 134 games with Kansas City in 2004, he hit .262, though his power numbers dropped to eight homers and 43 RBIs.
He was the Royals’ starting shortstop the past two seasons, but lost his job this spring to rookie Tony Pena Jr., who entered Tuesday batting .263 with no homers and 14 RBIs.
Gathright, 26, batted .328 with 50 runs, 20 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 26 attempts at Omaha. In 229 games for Tampa Bay and the Royals over parts of the past three seasons, he hit .251 with one homer, 55 RBIs and 48 steals.
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