Royals activate Keller, option Blewett, Mejia and Viloria to alternate site

MLB teams were required to reduce their rosters from 30 to 28 players — the number they’ll stay at for the rest of the 2020 season — on Thursday morning, and with the Kansas City Royals also activating starter Brad Keller for a Thursday night start against the Cubs, the team made a flurry of roster moves prior to the series finale with Chicago.

The Royals officially reinstated Keller, whose preparation for the season was delayed after he tested positive for COVID-19, from the injured list on Thursday. Relief pitcher Scott Blewett, infielder/outfielder Erick Mejia and catcher Meibrys Viloria were optioned to the team’s alternate training site at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

Keller, who served as the Royals’ Opening Day starter in 2019 and may have done so again if not for his coronavirus diagnosis, will be making his 2020 debut. He posted a 4.19 ERA with 122 strikeouts and 70 walks in 165 1/3 innings last season.

Mejia, a 25-year-old utility player who stood out in a major way during summer camp, was hitless with five strikeouts and no walks in eight major league at-bats this season.

Blewett, a 24-year-old right-hander who split last season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, was recalled on Wednesday but did not pitch in his lone game on the major league roster. Viloria, a 23-year-old backstop who has played in 52 major league games with the Royals over the past two seasons, has already spent two separate one-game stints with the Royals this season but has yet to see action.