Kansas City Royals giving Kyle Zimmer one last chance

The Kansas City Royals just cannot quit Kyle Zimmer, as he is back with the franchise on a one year deal.

One had to wonder if it was the end of the line for Kyle Zimmer. The former fifth overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals did not pitch at all in 2018, his career derailed by injuries. He had been a consensus top 100 prospect for three times between 2013 and 2016, but that ranking can only go so far. At 26 years old, and out of baseball last year, one would have expected that his time would be over.

Instead, the Royals have brought Zimmer back. He has signed a one year split contract, paying $555,000 the major league level, and $124,000 if he is in the minors once again.

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There is no questioning the potential Zimmer possessed. When he was able to get on the mound, he produced some solid numbers, posting a 3.54 ERA and a 1.247 WHiP, striking out 10.8 batters per nine innings. Zimmer had the stuff to dominate, giving the Royals hope that he could become a top of the rotation starter if he could stay healthy.

That part was the problem. Zimmer battled a myriad of shoulder and elbow problems, then underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2016. Those injuries have held Zimmer to a grand total of 259 professional innings in his six years in the Royals system, and leaving one to wonder if he actually exists.

Regardless of whether or not Zimmer is a figment of Dayton Moore’s fevered imagination, this is likely his last chance. If he can prove to be healthy, and have the stuff that made him such an intriguing prospect as recently as 2016, Zimmer could still have a future with the Royals. If not, then he will get that one last payday, and Kansas City can finally move on.

This season may be perfect for Zimmer to get that chance from a roster standpoint. The Royals need starting pitching, as the rotation, outside of Brad Keller, was battered last season. Or, if Zimmer finds himself in the bullpen, he could end up as a high leverage reliever, potentially a multi-inning fireman in the Chris Devenski mold.

The Kansas City Royals are bringing back Kyle Zimmer. It is now or never for the former top prospect.