Pasquantino (hand) could be back on Friday

Yet another hamate bone fracture returner today, Pasquantino hit a disappointing .224/.309/.350 before heading to the injured list in mid-June. It’s a surprisingly quick return for Pasquantino, but he figures to reassume everyday duties and push Jac Caglianone back to the outfield, though he’s surprisingly not in the lineup tonight. Pasquantino is a worthwhile add in leagues where he was dropped, but his expected stats were all rough before the injury, so he shouldn’t exactly be seen as a must-play option.

Yeah, Tyler Tolbert. He went 2-for-2 before being lifted from Saturday’s game, didn’t play Sunday, went 5-for-5 with a homer and a double (his first two extra-base hits of the season) on Monday and started off 5-for-5 with another homer and three infield singles tonight. Just the homers in back-to-back games is surprising enough from Tolbert. He was without a homer in his previous 49 games between Triple-A and the majors this season. He had four in 129 minor league games in 2024 and four in 93 games between Triple-A and the majors last season. Before going 2-for-2 on Saturday, he was hitting .200 in 35 major league at-bats this season. He’s now at .396. He also has 10 steals after getting one tonight. Tolbert probably won’t keep hitting, but he is an elite basestealer and the Royals figure to give him regular playing time for at least a little while after this surge. Those needing steals could do worse.

Pasquantino kicked off his rehab assignment by reaching base safely in three of his four plate appearances. The 28-year-old first baseman figures to get a couple additional tune-up contests under his belt before returning to Kansas City later this week. He’s been working his way back from a hamate fracture since mid-June.

Pasquantino figures to make it back to Kansas City before next week’s All-Star break after hitting the shelf with a hamate fracture back in mid-June. The 28-year-old first baseman was the driving force being Team Italy’s remarkable run during the World Baseball Classic, but he’s dndured a down year at the plate, hitting .224/.309/.350 with six homers, 32 RBI and three steals in 68 games.

The Tyler Tolbert Game. The Royals’ speedy utilityman came into the day with no extra-base hits and one RBI in 43 plate appearances this season. Even in Triple-A, he totaled just two extra-base hits in 20 games. All three of his singles today were softly hit, but he got up to 96.5 mph of exit velocity on his double. His homer left the bat at 94 mph, but it carried 376 feet to left anyway. The Royals had Tolbert at shortstop with Bobby Witt Jr. DHing today. He mostly plays against lefties, but the Royals will probably make an exception and start him no matter who the Mets throw against the on Tuesday.

There’s optimism Pasquantino will be ready for a minor league rehab assignment at some point next week. The 28-year-old first baseman hit the injured list with a dreaded hamate fracture back in mid-June. It sounds like there’s a chance he returns before the All-Star break.

Witt Jr. has been out of the lineup for five straight games now. He was reportedly available off the bench on Tuesday but did not enter the game. On Wednesday, Tyler Tolbert will start at shortstop again and bat ninth. We know that Witt Jr. has been working out and getting accustomed to wearing a knee brace, but it’s fair to wonder if it might just make more sense to have put him on the injured list and let him heal.

This will make four straight games that Witt is not in the starting lineup as he continues to deal with low-grade MCL sprain in his right knee. He’s considered day-to-day, but the Royals are obviously taking every precaution with their franchise player. With Maikel Garcia (hand) on the injured list, Tyler Tolbert will get the start at shortstop in Witt’s absence.

It would have been surprising if he was, following manager Matt Quatraro telling reporters last night that Witt was heading for additional testing. The 26-year-old superstar’s status for this weekend — at the very least — is firmly in doubt as things stand. Tyler Tolbert is picking up a start at shortstop tonight and batting ninth.

It was a bad day for hamate bones in the American League Central on Saturday as both Pasquantino and Guardians’ third baseman José Ramírez fractured theirs while swinging the bat. The 28-year-old slugger is expected to miss at least four-to-six weeks. John Rave was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move on Sunday. Jac Caglianone is expected to see the bulk of the action at first base while Pasquantino is shelved.