Recent word from the KC Royals that baseball gave Kyle Zimmer another minor-league option is good for Zimmer and the Royals. The promising but injury-prone pitcher can now be sent to the minor leagues this season, which raises these questions: How can demoting him to the bushes benefit Zimmer, why would it be good for the club, and how in the world do the minor league option rules work?
Answering the first two questions is easy, especially when they’re considered within the unique circumstances of Zimmer’s troubled career. The Royals made him a first-round draft pick (fifth overall) in 2012 and anticipated he’d get to Kansas City quickly, but injuries impeded his progress throughout his several minor league seasons.