Royals part ways with Omar Infante, who is third in AL All-Star voting for second basemen

The Kansas City Royals are parting ways with Omar Infante, who currently ranks third in American League All-Star voting among second basemen.

That’s a surprise.

Not the part about the Royals designating Infante for assignment Wednesday, even though they still owe him almost half of the $30.25 million contract he signed in 2013.

That move has been a long time coming, after the 15-year veteran has batted .238 with a .269 on-base percentage over three years in Kansas City.

The surprising part is that someone with those numbers is third in All-Star voting. But, then again, Royals fans are known for supporting their guys in the ballot boxes no matter how horrendous their seasons may be.

Remember last year, when at one point eight Royals players – including Infante, who was batting .236 at the time – were leading the AL in All-Star votes at their positions? In the end, three Royals players started the midsummer classic, and Infante wasn’t one of them.

This year, Infante is batting .239, which ranks him 10th among American League second basemen. He hadn’t started in the last two weeks. And the Royals needed a roster spot for pitcher Brian Flynn.

So the team made a logical move and cut the second baseman with the third most All-Star votes in the AL.

ALSO

Colorado Rockies sever ties with Jose Reyes

Three of MLB draft’s first-day picks are UCLA signees

First a streak, then the draft for Pepperdine’s A.J. Puckett, who goes No. 67