Brad Penny injures hand punching wall on Thursday, released by Royals on Friday

Nearing the end of his playing days, Brad Penny has carved out a decent career for himself over 13 seasons.

Since making his big league debut in 2000, Penny has spent time with the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Detroit Tigers. After not pitching in the major leagues in 2013, the veteran starting pitcher was hoping to add the Kansas City Royals to that list this season. Penny signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals in January which included an invitation to spring training.

The Royals have already seen enough of Brad Penny to make a decision on his future with the team. Kansas City released the 35-year-old on Friday. Penny didn’t help his case on the mound, surrendering 13 hits and seven earned runs over four innings so far this month. Punching a wall and subsequently injuring his non-throwing hand was apparently another strike against him.

One reason Brad Penny was released: He injured his non-throwing hand punching a wall on Thursday, source says.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) March 7, 2014

From the outset, Brad Penny was facing an uphill battle in making the Royals’ roster. He was going to need quite bit to go his way for that to happen. Then, Penny went out and served up batting practice to the Padres and White Sox and threw his hand into a wall. That’s not going to get it done.