Vinnie Pasquantino Ahead Of Schedule, Could Return For Wild Card Series

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino noticed his common season come to an finish a month in the past when he suffered a damaged proper thumb. It was a devastating blow to Kansas Metropolis’s offense, and the preliminary timeline offered on the time left him set to overlook the subsequent six-to-eight weeks, not solely ending his common season however doubtless retaining him out for many if not all the postseason. Flash ahead to right this moment, nonetheless, and issues are wanting much more optimistic. As famous by Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas Metropolis Star, Pasquantino is into account to be activated from the injured record to affix the membership’s roster for the AL Wild Card collection, which begins on Tuesday.

The transfer could be one thing of a shock simply 4 weeks after his damage, however Thompson notes that the 26-year-old has resumed taking batting apply and even confronted reside pitching yesterday. In an interview throughout the group’s broadcast of final night time’s recreation, GM J.J. Picollo famous that Pasquantino “felt good” after the session however that the membership might want to consider him right this moment earlier than deciding whether or not to activate him or have him proceed rehabbing in hopes of impacting the membership deeper into the playoffs, ought to they make it that far. Per MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, the membership plans for Pasquantino to face reside pitching once more tomorrow earlier than they decide on whether or not or to not activate him for Tuesday’s Wild Card Sequence.

If Pasquantino is actually wholesome sufficient to return early, it will be a significant increase to Kansas Metropolis’s offense. In 131 video games with the Royals this yr, the 26 yr outdated has hit a good .262/.315/.446 with 19 homers in 554 journeys to the plate and a 108 wRC+. That makes him simply considered one of 4 Royals hitters with a greater than league common wRC+ alongside second baseman Michael Massey, veteran backstop Salvador Perez, and MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. For a Royals membership that has primarily made it to the postseason off the again of a superb beginning rotation (in addition to the offensive heroics of Witt), including one other dependable bat to the lineup could possibly be a recreation changer for the Royals as they head into their first postseason collection since profitable the 2015 World Sequence almost a decade in the past.

Whereas the primary baseman might return to motion for the collection, that doesn’t essentially imply he’ll be taking part in first base. Thompson notes that the membership activated Massey again in June earlier than he was able to return defensively, as a substitute utilizing him completely as a DH and pinch hitter for 2 weeks earlier than finally being eased again into defensive duties on the keystone. Ought to the Royals observe the same path with Pasquantino, it’s attainable he wouldn’t retake his function at first base till late within the playoffs, if in any respect.

That would depart Yuli Gurriel, who has slashed .260/.361/.320 (96 wRC+) throughout 17 video games with the Royals this yr, in place because the membership’s first baseman, whereas Pasquantino is put in because the membership’s on a regular basis DH throughout the postseason. In latest weeks, the Royals haven’t had a set DH and have as a substitute used that spot within the lineup to relaxation gamers however Pasquantino’s return would appear more likely to value Freddy Fermin taking part in time by inflicting the membership to start out Perez behind the plate extra ceaselessly. That stated, it’s additionally attainable that Perez could possibly be used because the membership’s common first baseman, leaving Fermin behind the plate and pushing Gurriel to the bench.