Vinnie

Pasquantino

Pasquantino has yet to find the power stroke that launched 32 homers and drove in 113 runs a season ago. His barrel rate, bat speed, and fast swing rate are all noticeably down through two months of play. He has only missed four games and continues to bat in the heart of the Royals’ lineup.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro is shaking things up by moving Carter to the leadoff spot for the second time this season to face Rangers righty Kumar Rocker. Maikel Garcia has been moved to third in the order with Vinnie Pasquantino hitting cleanup. The 22-year-old rookie backstop has been mired in an extended tailspin at the plate, hitting .198 (19-for-96) with one homer, 11 RBI and 32 strikeouts over his last 30 games.

Things have finally – hopefully – begun to turn for Pasquantino. Before this contest, he’d hit safely in five straight games with two doubles and two walks over that span. Then, another hit-less night here pushed his average back below the Mendoza line. Also, a game like this where he only swung-and-missed one time, but also didn’t have a hard-hit ball sort of underscores what could be his problem this season as he’s shortened up his swing and lost plenty of bat speed in the process.

Other than a two-game absence due to back tightness, it’s the first time he’s sat this season. The Red Sox are starting another lefty in Connelly Early, and Pasquantino is hitting .113/.175/.151 in 57 plate appearances versus southpaws this year. The Royals have Salvador Perez at first base and Starling Marte DHing tonight.

Pasquantino seemed to be bouncing back earlier this month, but he is 2-for-19 in his last five games, dropping his average back down to .198, and his xwOBA was already trending down again before that. That’s still no good explanation from him going from 58th percentile bat speed last year to 14th percentile this season. There’s still hope things will get better, but the Royals probably need to try someone else in the third spot in their lineup.

Pasquantino’s bat speed numbers are still well down from the last two years, but he managed to hit a couple of balls 107 mph tonight, including one that turned into a 404-foot homer. They were his third and fourth hardest-hit balls of the year. His high this year is 108.1 mph, which would have checked in as his 31st highest last year. He topped out at 114.4 mph then. He’s currently batting .176/.279/.352 with four homers in 129 plate appearances. He was back in Kansas City’s lineup on Friday night following a two-game absence due to back tightness.

That’s two days in a row off for Pasquantino since he left Tuesday’s game with lower back tightness. Salvador Perez is batting fourth and playing first base while Elias Díaz grabs a start against LHP Jeffrey Springs.

Pasquantino will get some additional time to rest and recover following an early departure from Tuesday’s game in West Sacramento with lower back tightness. Royals president JJ Picollo said earlier Wednesday that he doesn’t anticipate Pasquantino requiring a trip to the injured list. Salvador Perez takes over at the cold corner with rookie Carter Jensen handling the catching duties. Fantasy managers should consider Pasquantino day-to-day heading into Thursday’s series finale.

Pasquantino left Tuesday’s game with lower back tightness, but it seems like the Royals are not concerned that he’ll need an extended absence. Picollo referred to Pasquantino as day-to-day for now, so he may miss a game or two this week.

He’s probably day-to-day. If he can’t go Wednesday, then the Royals could use Salvador Perez at first base and Starling Marte at DH against lefty Jeffrey Springs.