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Kansas City Royals middle infielder Adalberto Mondesi is expected to begin extended spring training on Saturday. The prospect has been nursing an injured shoulder, and he'll likely be ready to begin a minor-league assignment in about 10 days. Mondesi still packs a rare combination of power and speed that could be hugely valuable up the middle, but his contact woes have held him back from forcing the team to move on from Alcides Escobar, one of the worst hitters in baseball. It remains to be seen if Mondesi can finally force his way up to the big league squad.

Mondesi (shoulder) will start playing extended spring training games Saturday and could be assigned to Triple-A Omaha in a week, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi (shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

Mondesi (shoulder) will play second base and bat seventh against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Mondesi (shoulder) said he began throwing from 90 feet Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.

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Kansas City Royals prospect Adalberto Mondesi (formerly Raul Mondesi) is back in action Monday, but he'll be serving as the designated hitter due to still nursing his shoulder injury. He has not begun throwing yet, but the team still sees the injury as a minor one that shouldn't have any long-lasting concern. Mondesi was the second baseman in waiting last season, but his poor performance opened the door for waiver wire hero Whit Merrifield to take the job instead. Mondesi's main target at this point would likely be as shortstop Alcides Escobar's replacement, since Escobar is one of the worst hitters in the majors, but first, Mondesi will have to continue to improve his own abilities to get another chance soon.

Mondesi (shoulder) will not throw for the next five days, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports.

Mondesi will be sidelined for a couple days due to arm soreness, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports.

Mondesi will officially be known as "Adalberto" going forward, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports.

Mondesi will compete for a job in spring training, but may open the year at Triple-A Omaha following Friday's signing of Alcides Escobar, 610 Sports Radio reports.

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Kansas City Royals infielder Raul Mondesi was predicted to be the starting shortstop for the Royals in 2018, but Royals general manager Dayton Moore said on 610 AM in Kansas City on Friday that Mondesi will "get an opportunity to compete at second base" in spring training. The Royals have re-signed Alcides Escobar and plan to install him as their everyday shortstop again, which means Mondesi is likely destined to head back to Triple-A Omaha. It is possible Mondesi can play his way into the second base job and push Whit Merrifield back to the outfield, but that seems unlikely. The rebuilding Royals giving an everyday job to the light-hitting Escobar and making Mondesi continue to wait for an opportunity makes little sense.

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The Kansas City Royals have brought up second baseman Raul Mondesi again. With the roster expansion, the big-league team is giving Mondesi another chance to crack it in the majors. The 21-year-old showed off his stellar speed last season, but his weakness at the plate was an issue. Handed the second-base job out of spring training this year, Mondesi actually got worse at the plate, forcing the team to send him down for more seasoning. However, in Triple-A, Mondesi has found his stride. Toning down his power stroke a little, Mondesi cut his strikeout rate from 36% in the bigs to just 24% in Triple-A. He still hit 13 home runs and stole 21 bases while hitting .305, so his potential is still very high, and with Alcides Escobar continuing to be one of the very worst hitters in the majors, he should get plenty of chances.

Mondesi was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Mondesi's status with the Royals remains the same -- strictly a September callup who's expected to be the future shortstop -- despite his dominance at Triple-A Omaha, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi (back) is in the starting lineup for Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi (back) is expected to return to the lineup early next week for Triple-A Omaha, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports

Mondesi hasn't played for Triple-A Omaha since July 9 due to a sore back, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi was selected to represent Omaha in the Triple-A All-Star Game but chose to sit out for precautionary reasons, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mondesi exited Triple-A Omaha's Sunday game with an apparent injury, Storm Chasers radio broadcaster Donny Baarns reports.

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The Kansas City Royals decided to take a chance by letting Raul Mondesi take the second base job out of spring training, and every concern about him played out. He struck out a whopping 36% of the time, and while he was able to steal five bases in just 15 games, his contact problems were just overwhelming. He was sent back to Triple-A, Whit Merrifield became the starter, and Mondesi became a footnote for the future. In 180 at-bats since his demotion, Mondesi has terrorized the minor leaguers. He's hit .339 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases, and most importantly, his strikeout rate has only been 21.5%. While this obviously does not guarantee success at the major league level and Alcides Escobar's recent uptick in performance will hold off Mondesi for the time being, dynasty owners should be intrigued in this improvement in his game. He could be a serious power/speed threat in the middle infield later this season or next.

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Kansas City Royals second baseman Raul Mondesi was handed the starting job for the Royals coming out of spring training, but he was sent back down to Triple-A Omaha after he hit terribly through the first three weeks of the season. At the heart of his struggles were his strikeouts; he struck out 16 times in just 39 at-bats. In Triple-A, he's cut his strikeout rate by nearly 15 percent while hitting three home runs and stealing eight bases, and he earned a quick call-up to the big league club for the second half of a doubleheader on Sunday. Mondesi went 0-for-3 and struck out twice. He was optioned back to Triple-A on Monday.

Mondesi was sent back to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mondesi was recalled from Triple-A Omaha prior to Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mondesi is happy with the progress he's making at Triple-A Omaha, and feels that he's getting back into a rhythm at the plate, Tony Boone of the Omaha World-Herald reports.

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Kansas City Royals infielder Raul Mondesi had an unimaginably bad start to 2017. Always one to struggle with making regular contact, Mondesi proved all his doubters right by hitting just .103 while striking out 34.8 percent of the time in his first 39 at-bats at the major league level. He's since been sent down to Triple-A Omaha, and his numbers are starting to come around. Mondesi is only striking out 25.4 percent of the time, the lowest rate he's ever had at Triple-A or higher, and he's hitting .302 while walking 8.5 percent of the time. That's also his highest ever walk rate at Triple-A or above. It's still early, but Mondesi is also just 21 years old. If he can show that he can grow into a more patient hitter, his power/speed combination could still turn him into a very good player at the major league level.

Mondesi is slashing .250/.325/.306 over nine games since being demoted to Triple-A Omaha.

Mondesi was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

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After struggling mightily so far in 2017, Kansas City Royals second baseman Raul Mondesi was optioned to Triple-A on Friday. Mondesi was hitting just .103 in the majors, and he was striking out 34.8 percent of the time. While he has shown a tantalizing power-speed combo in the minors, Mondesi has always struggled with making consistent contact. He should get another crack at the bigs later this season.

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Raul Mondesi earned the starting job at second base out of Spring Training, but he's certainly testing management's patience. Mondesi struck out three more times on Tuesday, bringing his grand total to 13 strikeouts in just 35 at-bats. Amongst the Royals, Mondesi's 31.7% strikeout rate is only exceeded by Brandon Moss's 34.1% rate. Kansas City appears to be embracing a new approach by having players like Mondesi and Moss get so many at-bats, but unless Mondesi can either get his strikeouts under control or produce more when he does make contact, he may start to lose playing time. Swiss Army Knives Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert will be waiting in the wings.

Mondesi is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Giants, the Kansas City Star's Rustin Dodd reports.

Mondesi is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels.

Despite Mondesi's slow start in 2017, Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he believes the young second baseman gives the team its best chance to win right now, Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star reports.

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Raul Mondesi wasn't able to get Kansas City back in the game on Wednesday with his home run, but it certainly pleased his few fantasy owners. The rookie shortstop hit a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth in the blowout loss. Mondesi has been off to a slow start this season as he continues to be plagued by contact issues, but he has chipped in three stolen bases. He's currently sitting at a triple-slash line of .167/.200/.292, and he's struck out in 30.8 percent of his at-bats so far. Fantasy owners should not own Mondesi outside of very deep leagues.

Mondesi is not in the lineup Saturday against the Astros.

Mondesi has failed to collect a hit and has struck out twice over his six at-bats through the Royals' first two games of the season.

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Raul Mondesi has been Kansas City's top prospect for the last couple of years, and he'll get his shot in 2017. Mondesi has been tapped for the starting job at second base, but he's got a cast of characters like Whit Merrifield and Christian Colon that will be waiting in the wings if he falters. Mondesi has the power/speed combo that fantasy owners love, but he'll also be battling the contact demons. In his 611 at-bats that have taken place at Double-A or higher, Mondesi has struck out 30.3% of the time and has only walked 5.6% of the time. He particularly struggled with contact against righties in his 135 at-bats in the majors last season as he struck out 33 times against them while only walking once. The good news is that over those 611 at-bats, Mondesi has hit 13 home runs and stolen 50 bases. Unfortunately, unless he can consistently make contact and curb his free-swinging ways, his time in the limelight might be short-lived.

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Raul Mondesi has officially won the starting second base job coming out of spring training, according to MLB.com. Mondesi was Kansas City's top prospect, but this is a surprise move by the Royals due to his issues with making contact. Mondesi hit nine home runs and stole 33 bases across four levels last season including the majors, but he also posted a 108/23 K/BB ratio. He struck out 32.2 percent of the time at the major league level last fall. Fantasy owners should expect plenty of stolen bases from Mondesi when he gets on, but he could also carry a low batting average and struggle to reach first base consistently.

Manager Ned Yost has named Mondesi as the Royals' Opening Day starter at second base, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi went 1-for-2 with three stolen bases and a run in Sunday's game against the Angels.

Mondesi (back) will man second base and bat in the leadoff spot in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Mondesi (head) is expected to resume workouts Sunday and could return to game action Monday or Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Manager Ned Yost says Mondesi does not have a concussion, but will take it easy for a few days, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi was removed from Friday's game after an apparent injury following a collision at first base, Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star reports.

Mondesi enters camp in a four-way battle for the second base job, The Associated Press reports.

Mondesi is among the candidates vying for the Royals' starting job at second base in 2017, the Kansas City Star reports.

Mondesi remains out of the lineup Tuesday, according to Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio.

Mondesi is not in the lineup Monday against the Athletics.

Mondesi is not in the lineup Sunday for the second day in a row, according to MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan.

Mondesi is out of the lineup Saturday against the White Sox, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.