CLEVELAND - Kanekoa Texeira of Kula, a rookie relief pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, was placed on the disabled list for the first time Sunday.
Texeira has a strained right elbow, the team said. The move was retroactive to Saturday, and Texeira will be eligible for reinstatement on Sept. 12.
''He's had off-and-on issues with this probably twice before, but it was forearm tightness,'' Royals manager Ned Yost was quoted as saying on the Royals' website. ''We'd give him two or three days and it didn't really go away. This time, it was a little more extensive. It was his forearm and down into the elbow a little bit.
Article Photos
Texeira
''It's something where I personally think he might be able to pitch again in another week. But, with September coming up and the state of our bullpen here lately, the best thing to do is go ahead and protect him and get another arm in there.''
The Royals reinstated pitcher Robinson Tejeda from the 15-day DL on Sunday.
Texeira, the first Maui-born pitcher in major league history, is 1-1 with a 4.84 ERA and two holds in 43 relief appearances with the Royals and Seattle Mariners this season. He was signed by Kansas City on June 3 after being designated for assignment by Seattle. With the Royals, he is 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA and one hold in 27 games.
Fact Box
FROM MAUI TO?THE MAJORS
Statistics for the Kansas City Royals' Kanekoa Texeira, of Kula:
SUNDAY: Placed on 15-day DL retroactive to Saturday.
WITH ROYALS: 1-0, 4.64 ERA in 27 relief appearances, 422?3 IP, 24 runs (22 earned), 51 hits, 15 BB, 19 K, 3 HR.
Season (ROYALS AND MARINERS): 1-1, 4.84 ERA in 43 relief appearances, 611?3 IP, 36 runs (33 earned), 73 hits, 25 BB, 33 K, 3 HR, 2 holds.
All three of Maui's active major leaguers have been on the DL this year. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino was out from July 28 to Aug. 12 due to an abdominal strain, and Oakland Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki was on the DL from April 30 to May 16 with an intercostal strain.
