mlb_kansas_city_royals_anthony_veneziano_09_19_2023

Left-hander Anthony Veneziano pitches for the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, in May 2023. Photo: Minda Haas Kuhlmann/Omaha Storm Chasers

The Kansas City Royals will have at least one major league debut during Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Guardians, as rookie catcher Tyler Cropley will start behind the plate. After the roster moves they made Tuesday, there's a chance for two or three more.

Kansas City selected the contract of left-hander Anthony Veneziano and recalled righty Jonathan Bowlan from Double-A Northwest Arkansas. To make room for them on the active roster, right-handers Brady Singer (left lower lumbar strain) and Brad Keller (return of thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms) were placed on the 15-day injured list. With less than two weeks remaining in the season, that means both pitchers are done for the year.

To make room for Veneziano on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Matt Beaty was designated for assignment.

This will be the first big league action for both Bowlan, who was added to the Royals' 40-man roster in November 2021, and Veneziano.

Veneziano, a 10th-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2019, has a 3.55 ERA with a .245 opponent batting average, 127 strikeouts and 48 walks in 132 innings. He's made 26 appearances, all but one of which have been starts — 18 at Omaha and eight at Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Bowlan, a second-round pick in 2018, has a 5.91 ERA with a .284 opponent average, 105 strikeouts and 45 walks over 102 innings. He's pitched in 24 games — 14 at Omaha and 10 at Northwest Arkansas — and has started in all but three of those games.

Singer, who looked to be the Royals' ace of the future heading into this season, finishes the year with a disappointing 5.52 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 29 starts. Keller, who was limited to 11 appearances this season due to an ongoing battle with thoracic outlet syndrome, finishes with a 4.57 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 11 games, including nine starts.

Beaty, who went 1 for 5 during a four-game stint with the Giants this year before coming to Kansas City, batted .232/.358/.304 in 26 games as a Royal.