The following press release comes from the Kansas City Royals.
Royals sign free agent pitcher Kris Medlen to two-year deal with mutual option
KANSAS CITY, MO (December 18, 2014) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Kris Medlen to a two-year contract with a mutual option for the 2017 season. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Royals will announce a corresponding roster move later today.
Medlen, 29, missed the 2014 season, recovering from “Tommy John surgery” after suffering an elbow injury during Spring Training. In his only full season as a starting pitcher (2013), the righty went 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA (68 ER in 197.0 IP), with his 15 victories tied for sixth-most in the National League. He finished the 2013 season with a flurry, earning N.L. Pitcher of the Month honors in September, posting a 4-0 mark with a 1.00 ERA and a .197 opponents average in his last five starts. He dropped a 2-0 decision at Philadelphia on April 4, 2013, which snapped a Major League record of 23 consecutive regular season starts that the Braves won, dating back to May 23, 2010.
Medlen has been used as a both a starter and reliever during his time with the Braves, going 34-20 with a 2.95 ERA in 152 career appearances and 61 starts. He opened the 2012 season in the bullpen, but was moved to the rotation on July 31, and went 9-0 with an 0.97 ERA in his 12 starts. He became the first Braves pitcher to post a sub-1.00 ERA and post at least eight victories in his first 10 starts of the season. Since the beginning of 2010, Medlen’s .674 winning percentage (31-15) ranks third behind Clayton Kershaw (.702) and Max Scherzer (.701) among pitchers with at least 40 decisions.
A native of Artesia, Calif., Medlen was selected by Atlanta in the 10th round of the 2006 June Free Agent Draft. He resides in Duluth, Ga., with his wife, Nicole, son, Max and newborn daughter, Penelope.
Thank you for reading. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Main Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
