KANSAS CITY -- Bullpen coach Steve Foster is leaving the Royals' Major League staff to become special assistant to general manager Dayton Moore and Minor League pitching coordinator.

The move is effective immediately, giving Foster time to prepare for the beginning of the Instructional League on Sept. 16 in Arizona.

Foster, 46, is in his third season as the Royals' bullpen coach after serving in the same capacity from 2007-09 with the Marlins. He has also worked as a coach in the Minors, a scout and a college coach. He pitched for the Reds before arm injuries halted his career.

Reason for the move?

"For impact, level of influence and being able to teach and that's what I enjoy doing," Foster said. "I think I'm going to have a larger circle of influence."

"It's a great move for the organization," manager Ned Yost said. "We've had great pace of development for our position players [but] the pace of development for our pitchers has slowed a bit. Foster's a guy we think can get the program going in the right direction again. He knows exactly what we need at this level and how to develop it."

Moore said that Foster, brought in to aid the pitching coach, "made an incredible difference building continuity within our Major League bullpen." It's been a young but largely effective bullpen.

"Exciting, fun, never a dull moment, Romper Room, a lot of personality," Foster said.

Foster will work out of his home in Frisco, Texas, and will be able to spend more time with his family, which includes two teenagers.

His ultimate goal is to be a Major League pitching coach.

"I think that's a good step, handling all the pitchers in the Minor Leagues and the coaches," Foster said.

Bill Fischer, the Royals' senior pitching advisor, will take over the bullpen duties on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. For the rest of the season, the job will be split between Northwest Arkansas pitching coach Larry Carter and Omaha pitching coach Doug Henry.

Foster replaces Rick Knapp, who was named Minor League pitching coordinator in September 2011.

Dyson dealing with lat strain, won't go on DL

KANSAS CITY -- Outfielder Jarrod Dyson has a lat strain in his right throwing shoulder which will limit his playing time for the Royals.

"He's going to be shut down for a while throwing-wise, but it doesn't affect his legs," manager Ned Yost said.

Dyson underwent an MRI on Friday after experiencing soreness in his shoulder for the last few days. He believes it might have originated in his spectacular catch against the center-field-wall on Monday at Boston's Fenway Park.

"The next day and Tuesday, I felt a little tightness but Wednesday I really felt it," Dyson said. "It's day to day right now. I'm still available to run or whatever, I'm just shut down throwing right now."

Yost said Dyson can still hit, run and field, so he could be used off the bench.

"You're going to see '@mrzoombiya' [Dyson's twitter handle] back in his old job, pinch-running," Dyson said.

Major League rosters can be expanded on Saturday, so Dyson won't go on the disabled list. Instead, another outfielder will be called up from the Minors.

Club officials indicated it will not be top prospect Wil Myers, who is expected to have a key role in Omaha's postseason play. Nor is Myers on the 40-man roster, a qualification that makes Triple-A outfielder David Lough, now in his third season with Omaha, a logical choice for a callup.

The Royals also are expected to add a third catcher as well. More callups are possible when Omaha's season is over, which could last until the middle of September.

Toma's induction into Royals Hall postponed

KANSAS CITY -- The ceremony inducting legendary groundskeeper George Toma into the Royals Hall of Fame was postponed on Friday night because of rain.

No new date was immediately announced. "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Man" will be the 25th member of the Royals Hall of Fame.

Ironically, his recognition for being a master of grass-growing on playing fields was delayed as the parched Midwest got needed relief from a summer-long drought.

Fans will get 'Moose' antlers on Saturday

KANSAS CITY -- Now here's a first for a Kauffman Stadium giveaway. The first 10,000 fans at Saturday's Royals-Twins game will get a set of Moose-takas antlers.

The royal blue antlers were conceived as a tribute to third baseman Mike Moustakas and are being presented, fittingly, by the Kansas City Zoo.

The winner of the "Let Loose Your Inner Moose Contest" also will be recognized for having the best "Moose" call to support Moustakas.