The Royals received devastating injury news on Friday, as star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks due to a broken right thumb he sustained during Thursday night’s 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
In the best-case scenario, he might return midway through the playoffs, but in the worst-case, he could be done for the season. At the very least, Pasquantino will miss the remainder of the regular season, just as Kansas City heads into its most crucial month of baseball in nearly a decade.
After a limited 2023 season where he played only 62 games due to a shoulder injury, the 26-year-old slugger had become one of the most prolific hitters in the American League, but he will now be absent from the team’s immediate plans.
Pasquantino’s season concludes with a .262 batting average and a .760 OPS. He notched 19 home runs, a team-leading 97 RBI (4th in MLB), 30 doubles, and 40 walks.
As of Friday’s games, the Royals are 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central but 5.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot. Unless they experience a significant collapse, they remain well-positioned for a playoff berth.
However, with three more games against the Astros followed by divisional series against the Guardians and Minnesota Twins, Pasquantino’s absence is a major blow. He has hit seven home runs and driven in 25 RBI in August alone. The Royals lack a direct replacement, so the team will need someone to significantly step up.
While Kansas City can manage this setback, losing such a key hitter from the lineup is certainly a blow. The hope is for Pasquantino to return for the playoffs, but regardless, the Royals are considerably weaker now than they were a day ago.
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