Royals rookie oversleeps, removed from lineup

Field Level Media|published: Fri 3rd April, 11:02 2026

Mar 29, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) drives in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen overslept and was removed from Kansas City's starting lineup on Thursday.

"I didn't wake up to my alarm. Slept through it," he told The Kansas City Star. "Don't really have an excuse -- nor should I. It [stinks]. It happens. I feel like I let teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and just know it won't happen again."

Jensen, 22, arrived too late to prepare to start the home game against Minnesota. Salvador Perez, the designated hitter in the original lineup, caught the first eight innings before Jensen came in during the ninth inning of the 5-1 loss to the Twins.

The game was scheduled for 1:10 p.m. local time.

"First and foremost, I'm glad Carter's OK," Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino told reporters. "I mean, that was kind of the initial thought when you're trying to get a hold of his parents and everything like that -- just make sure he's OK."

Jensen, a Kansas City native, was drafted by the Royals in the third round in 2021. He made his major league debut last September and is batting .125 (2-for-16) with one homer and two RBIs through six games this season.

"There are some things that cannot happen, and that's one of them," Pasquantino said. "So he's going to have to wear it on the chin -- same way anybody would have to. It can't happen, and hopefully it doesn't happen again. But it's one of those things that you just can't afford mistakes like that in this game. Just got to move forward the best that he can. I know he feels really bad.

"I know it was not his favorite drive to the field this morning, but it wasn't our favorite morning either, trying to figure out what was going on. He'll learn from it, grow a little bit. We're here for him, though. It's not like anybody's mad at him. Things happen. But you've got to learn from mistakes like that -- and maybe get another alarm clock or something."

The Royals are off to a 3-3 start as they begin a three-game home series Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

--Field Level Media

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