The Royals have placed Coco Crisp on the 15-day disabled list with a right rotator cuff strain. Crisp has played in 49 games this season for the Royals and he is 41 for 180 (.228 avg, .714 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 3 homers, 14 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The Royals will miss Crisp’s speed and defense while he is out of action. Crisp will be replaced in CF by Mitch Maier. Maier has played in 42 games this season for the Royals and he is 16 for 73 (.219 avg, .628 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

The Royals have designated lefty reliever Horacio Ramirez for assignment. Ramirez has pitched in 19 games (1 start) this season for the Royals and he is 0-2 with a 5.96 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Ramirez pitched in 34 games (1 start) in his two seasons with the Royals and he was 1-3 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Royals DFA’d Ramirez to make room on the active roster for Luke Hochevar who started today for them. Hochevar was the winning pitcher for the Royals working 6 2/3 innings and allowing only 4 hits and 2 earned runs while walking 2 batters and whiffing 3. The fine pitching performance today by Hochevar lowered his ERA on the season to 7.85.

UPDATE: The Royals flat out released Ramirez who was then signed by the Washington Nationals.