The Kansas City Royals made a significant roster change on Tuesday by designating outfielder Tyler Gentry for assignment. This decision opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, which has now been filled by left-hander Rich Hill. Hill's promotion from Triple-A Omaha, which had been previously reported, is now officially confirmed. In conjunction with this move, right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffmann was optioned to Omaha to create an active roster position for the 45-year-old veteran Hill.
Tyler Gentry, 26, made his major league debut last season but unfortunately went hitless in his five plate appearances. During the 2025 season, he has been primarily playing in Triple-A, where his performance has been less than stellar. Gentry currently holds a batting line of .205/.277/.365, with five home runs, 16 doubles, and two triples across 249 plate appearances. His struggles are evident in his 7.6% walk rate and 28.5% strikeout rate, marking this season as his least productive in three years at the Triple-A level.
Drafted in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Gentry showcased impressive numbers during his time in High-A and Double-A as he advanced through the minor league ranks. However, his transition to the top level has been challenging. Gentry is a right-handed hitter known for his success against left-handed pitchers in past seasons. Primarily a corner outfielder, he has played most of his career in right field but also has accumulated 461 innings in left field.
This marks Gentry's second year out of three for minor league options. The Royals now face a critical decision regarding his future, as they must either trade Gentry or place him on outright waivers within the next five days. Should the Royals choose to place him on waivers, an additional 48 hours will be required for processing. As Gentry has not been outrighted previously and lacks three years of major league service time, if he goes unclaimed, the Royals have the option to assign him outright to Omaha. This would allow them to retain him as a depth option without occupying a spot on the 40-man roster.
