The Kansas City Royals have recalled third baseman Mike Moustakas after a brief stay at Triple-A Omaha.
Moustakas was sent to the minors on May 22 after struggling to a .152 average with seven doubles, four homers and 17 RBI in 40 games this season. He went 0- for-7 to start his minor league assignment, then rebounded and was batting .355 in eight games.
The Royals needed to fill a roster spot because infielder Danny Valencia was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his left hand. Valencia was hurt just a couple of days after Moustakas was demoted and sat out five games before returning on Friday. He also played Saturday against Toronto, but had been 0-for-8 in the two games while dealing with the injury.
Valencia is batting .246 in 20 games with a homer and seven runs batted in this season.
The Royals also optioned Aaron Brooks to Omaha and activated lefty pitcher Francisley Bueno off the 15-day disabled list.
Brooks made his first big league start Saturday against the Blue Jays and recorded only two outs while allowing seven runs in the 12-2 loss.
Bueno had been sidelined since early April with a sprained left finger.
[SportsNetwork.com]
