Tagged: Tug Hulett

Eddie Rodriguez in global spotlight with Team USA

Good to see a good guy, Eddie Rodriguez, get the managerial job for the USA in next month’s World Cup competition.

He’s the Royals’ special assignments coach, his first year at the job but he’s been a Major League coach for a long time, including three years as Frank Robinson’s bench coach with the Montreal Expos. He’s played, coached and instructed in the Minor Leagues so he’s well qualified for the job given him by USA Baseball.

“I got a call in Boston and they wanted to know if I was interested, I was one of the finalists to be the manager,” he said.

Rodriguez was interested and USA Baseball got permission from the Royals to give him leave during September for the international competition. His team starts play on Sept. 10, playing Venezuela at Regensburg, Germany.

“It always looks good on the resume but, to me, it’s the honor. The same it was in Sydney, representing our country and representing it well and having players from different organizations and bringing them together in a short time – and bring back the medal,” he said.

Rodriguez was a coach on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal at Sydney.

He’ll have ex-Royals player and coach Jamie Quirk as his bench and third-base coach. Only players not on active Major League rosters can play in the World Cup competition. The one player from the Royals’ organization who is on the preliminary 60-man roster is infielder Tug Hulett, now with Triple-A Omaha.

— Dick Kaegel

Crisp goes on 15-day DL with sore shoulder

Center fielder Coco Crisp’s continuing battle with a sore right shoulder finally put him on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.

The Royals placed Crisp on the list retroactive to Saturday because of a right rotator cuff strain. His spot on the roster was taken by infielder Tug Hulett, recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

Crisp has been in and out of the lineup since May 26 when he was removed during a game because of shoulder soreness. It has been particularly affecting his swing from the left side of the plate and his ability to throw.

Manager Trey Hillman was hoping the shoulder would heal during a six-game hiatus during which Crisp missed four games because of the shoulder and two more to attend his great grandmother’s funeral. Since rejoining the team at Tampa Bay on June 4, he has played in five of nine games.

Crisp is batting .228 but had proven especially adapt at drawing bases on balls; he has 29 walks for a .336 on-base percentage. Batting in the leadoff spot in 47 of his 49 games, Crisp was leading the Royals with 30 runs scored and 13 stolen bases with five triples.

This is Hulett’s second stint with the Royals. He with with them for 10 days, May 24-June 4, and went 0-for-4.

–Dick Kaegel

Hochevar optioned; Aviles, Tejeda on disabled list

Right-hander Luke Hochevar, who took the loss for the Royals on Saturday against the Cardinals, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha as the club made a total of six roster moves following the game.

Shortstop Mike Aviles and reliever Robinson Tejeda were placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Royals added pitchers John Bale and Roman Colon and infielder Tug Hulett, all recalled from Omaha. Bale had been on an injury rehabilitation assignment.

Aviles has a strained right forearm and Tejeda has tendinitis of the right rotator cuff.

–Dick Kaegel