Alcides Escobar Injury: Updates on Royals SS's Knee and Return

Alcides Escobar didn't miss a single game in 2014, but less than two weeks into the 2015 campaign, he looked destined for a spell on the bench. Escobar exited Friday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. However, he was able to return to the lineup Monday against the Minnesota Twins.

Continue for updates. 

---

Escobar Returns to Lineup

Monday, April 20

MLBLineups on Twitter noted that Escobar returned to the Kansas City Royals lineup against the Twins:

"

4/20 @Royals lineup vs MIN Escobar SS Moustakas 3B Hosmer 1B Morales DH Perez C Gordon LF Orlando RF Colon 2B Dyson CF Volquez P

— MLBLineups (@mlblineups) April 20, 2015"

On April 17, the Royals announced that the initial diagnosis of Escobar's injury was a mild sprain of his left knee.

Escobar was hurt after Brett Lawrie slid in hard to second base to break up a double-play attempt on April 17 against Oakland. Kansas City players took exception, and both benches cleared before cooler heads prevailed.

Joel Goldberg of FSKC provided comments from Royals manager Ned Yost, who spoke about the injury following the game:

Escobar ultimately dodged a bullet. A mild sprain isn't the worst diagnosis he could have received, but it's worth noting that Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes sprained his knee and will miss six to eight weeks.

Although the 28-year-old doesn't boast a ton of offense, he has established himself as a key member of the Royals' middle infield. He has appeared in 643 games over the last five years for the team.