KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals activated outfielder Nori Aoki from the disabled list and optioned infielder Christian Colon to Triple-A Omaha before Kansas City's game Friday night against Detroit.
Aoki had been sidelined since June 21 with a strained left groin. He was 1 for 10 during a three-game rehab assignment for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Colon was 4 for 12 with two doubles and a triple in his first big league stint.
Where Aoki will fit back in remains to be seen. Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain have played well since he has been out, and Aoki could eventually platoon in right field.
He was starting Friday night, but that was partly because left fielder Alex Gordon remains out with a sprained right wrist. Dyson was starting in his place.