Royals' Bailey Falter resumes throwing after elbow injury

The left-handed pitcher has begun playing catch as he recovers from left elbow inflammation.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:21pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of muted earth tones.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's throwing motion captures the complexity and fragmentation of the athletic movement.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals pitcher Bailey Falter has resumed throwing after being placed on the injured list last week due to left elbow inflammation. Falter, who was working out of the bullpen to start the season, received an injection and has now progressed to playing catch as he works his way back from the valgus extension overload injury that was causing him pain when extending his elbow.

Why it matters

Falter's return to throwing is an encouraging sign for the Royals, who are hoping the left-hander can contribute out of the bullpen once he fully recovers. The team's pitching staff has struggled early in the season, so getting Falter back healthy would provide a boost to their relief corps.

The details

Falter was placed on the injured list on Friday due to the left elbow inflammation. After receiving an injection, he has now progressed to playing catch, with a bullpen session likely the next step in his rehab. Prior to the injury, Falter had allowed five runs in 3.1 innings of relief work to begin the regular season.

  • Falter was placed on the injured list on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • Falter began playing catch on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Bailey Falter

A left-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who was recently placed on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation.

Kansas City Royals

The Major League Baseball team that Falter plays for, based in Kansas City, Missouri.

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What’s next

Falter's next step in his recovery will likely be a bullpen session, though the team has not provided a clear timeline for his return.

The takeaway

Falter's ability to resume throwing is an encouraging sign for the Royals, who are hoping the left-hander can contribute out of the bullpen once he fully recovers from the elbow injury that sidelined him at the start of the season.