Royals place Nick Heath on injured list, recall Chance Adams

After an exciting start to his major league career, outfielder Nick Heath will have to take a break.

The Royals announced Saturday that they’ve placed Heath, who made his MLB debut last Thursday, on the injured list with a hamstring injury and recalled right-hander Chance Adams from their alternate training site.

Heath, 26, made his first two major league starts in center field this week and made a strong first impression, hitting .333 with a double, a walk, two steals, and two RBIs over seven plate appearances. He was injured in Friday night’s win over the Twins and exited after his first at-bat.

Adams, who was once ranked as a top 100 prospect by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus, was acquired from the Yankees for minor league infielder Cristian Perez last December. Over two major league seasons in New York, the 25-year-old right-hander has pitched in 16 MLB games, including one start, posting an 8.18 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 15 walks over 33 innings. He impressed in spring training this year, posting a 1.69 ERA with six Ks and no walks over 5 1/3 innings of relief, and he’ll look to carry that success into his first big-league opportunity with the Royals.