Tyler

Tolbert

Pasquantino suffered a hamate bone fracture on June 13th. He began his rehab assignment on Monday, and it sounds like the Royals don’t need to see much more from him. If Pasquantino does return this weekend, that would push Jac Caglianone back to the outfield, which would likely mean the end of regular playing time for Tyler Tolbert.

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.

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.

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.

Isbel was 1-for-2 with a walk before being replaced by pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert in the seventh inning.

The 23-year-old slugger was removed from Saturday’s game due to soreness in his shoulder that he suffered from running into the wall on Friday night. He’ll get Sunday off as a precautionary measure as well. Tyler Tolbert will start in his place in right field and will bat ninth against Twins’ left-hander Connor Prielipp.

Tolbert will get a spot on the Royals’ bench with Elias Díaz getting designated for assignment on Friday. The 28-year-old has been used almost exclusively as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement during his time with the Royals this season, and that’s likely to be the same case over the weekend against the Mariners.

Tolbert had been a luxury option on the Royals’ bench, serving almost exclusively as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. He had just five plate appearances in seven games with the Royals, going 1-for-5 (.200) with a run scored and a stolen base. He’ll return to an everyday role at the Triple-A level for the time being.