KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran, at odds with the Kansas City Royals since going on the disabled list two months ago, was activated Monday and struck out in his only plate appearance.

	Beltran

The outfielder, sidelined July 5 with a bone bruise on his right knee, was suspended without pay by the team Aug. 3 for refusing to report to the Royals' spring training facility at Haines City, Fla., where the team wanted him to rehabilitate, but relented about two weeks after the suspension.

The players' association filed a grievance, and the sides are awaiting the decision by arbitrator Shaym Das, who heard arguments Aug. 23.

During a five-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, Beltran hit .333 (6-for-18) with two home runs and two RBI.

Beltran, who struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of Monday's 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees, was hitting .247 with six homers and 32 RBI when he was injured. He rejoins a team with a hot-hitting outfield.

Johnny Damon, shifted from left field to Beltran's spot in center, is leading the majors since the All-Star break in average, hits and runs. He is the first player in Royals history to score 100 or more runs in three consecutive seasons.

Rookie left fielder Mark Quinn is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors this season. Going into Monday's game, he led AL rookies in batting, doubles, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, extra-base hits and total bases.

And right fielder Jermaine Dye is challenging the team's single-season home run record. Dye had 32 homers going into Monday night's game, needing five more to break Steve Balboni's record of 36, set in 1985.

Also on Monday, the Royals activated left-hander Paul Spoljaric from the disabled list. Spoljaric spent much of the season at Triple-A Omaha, where he was 1-2 with seven saves and a 3.00 ERA in 40 appearances.

Spoljaric had been on the disabled list since Aug. 19 with a strained lower back.