Royals designate reliever Boxberger for assignment

The Kansas City Royals designated right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger for assignment Wednesday. The team also announced the return of left-hander Eric Skoglund from his 80-game suspension for testing positive for two performance-enhancing substances.

Boxberger, 31, is 1-3 with one save, three blown saves and a 5.40 ERA in 29 appearances this season. Boxberger signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal with the Royals in February after leading the Arizona Diamondbacks with 32 saves in 2018. In 2015, he made the All-Star team and led the American League with 41 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Skoglund, who was handed his suspension in January, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. The 26-year-old was 1-6 with a 5.14 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) last season with Kansas City. The Royals also recalled left-hander Tim Hill from Omaha to replace Boxberger on the 25-man roster. He has pitched in six games for Kansas City this year, posting a 6.75 ERA.