MLB: Royals tab Hochevar to start Sunday

Colt Griffin fans are just going to have to wait…

Luke Hochevar, the Royals’ top pitching prospect, will pitch on Sunday against the Athletics.

Hochevar, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, will take John Bale’s spot in the rotation. Bale is on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder fatigue.

Officially, Hochevar will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha and put on the roster before Sunday’s game, and one player will have to be removed.

In three starts for Omaha, Hochevar was 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA. He’ll be pitching on regular rest after working six shutout innings on Tuesday night against Nashville.

“Rather than start ‘Johnny Whole Staff’—a bullpen start—[on Sunday], we’ll go with [Hochevar] and reward him for doing very well at Spring Training and also starting well in the Triple-A season,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said.