Royals Designate Kanekoa Texeira For Assignment

The Royals designated right-hander Kanekoa Texeira for assignment to create 40-man roster space for Danny Duffy, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. The Royals moved Kyle Davies to the 15-day disabled list to create room on the active roster for Duffy, who makes him MLB debut tonight.

The Mariners selected Texeira in the 2009 Rule 5 draft and kept him on their roster for two months before exposing him to waivers. The Royals pounced on the Hawaiian righty and kept him on their roster for the remainder of the 2010 season to earn his rights. In total, Texeira posted a 4.84 ERA with 4.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 52.2% ground ball rate in 61 1/3 innings of relief last year. He has struggled in 2011, allowing 13 hits and 3 walks in 6 1/3 innings without a strikeout.

Click here for more on the implications of calling Duffy up now.