Kansas City Royals right-hander Stephen Kolek will miss at least five to seven days after suffering a left oblique strain during spring training. The injury occurred Wednesday while Kolek was warming up for an exhibition game against Seattle, forcing him out of what would have been his second appearance this spring.

Manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that the team is awaiting further scans to determine the injury's severity. The 28-year-old pitcher joined the Royals in a deadline trade last summer, coming from San Diego in exchange for catcher Freddy Fermin. Kolek is expected to compete for a rotation spot after going 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts for Kansas City last season.

Kolek's spring debut last Friday showed promise, allowing one run and three hits over two innings against Texas while striking out two and walking one. The injury setback comes as the Royals prepare for the upcoming season, with Kolek having thrown 33 innings for them in 2025 after posting a 4.18 ERA in 14 starts for the Padres before the trade.