Followers in Kansas Metropolis are awaiting information on the standing of their first baseman after Vinnie Pasquantino exited Saturday’s recreation with what the Royals introduced for granted hamstring pressure. The membership added that Pasquantino will proceed to be evaluated, and MLB.com’s Anne Rogers adds the membership expects to know extra Sunday concerning the severity of the difficulty, together with whether or not or not the slugger will miss time as a result of situation. For his half, Pasquantino advised reporters (together with Rogers) this night that he feels “tremendous.”
“I don’t wish to put any timeframe on it, however I don’t assume — my intestine tells me it’s not going to have an effect on something,” Pasquantino mentioned, “However my intestine shouldn’t be the medical employees. So we’ll get it evaluated [Sunday] and we’ll see.”
Whereas it’s actually seen that the difficulty proves to be delicate sufficient that Pasquantino doesn’t miss important time, it’s considerably tough to think about him being again within the lineup in time for Opening Day, which is simply 5 days away. Even a comparatively delicate pressure may very well be trigger for a brief stint on the injured listing, although if Pasquantino manages to keep away from the IL it wouldn’t be the primary time he’s efficiently defied the standard knowledge relating to restoration time. The primary baseman suffered a damaged thumb within the remaining days of August final 12 months and was slated to overlook between six and eight weeks, however wound up coming again only a month later to take part within the membership’s Wild Card sequence towards the Orioles.
After all, returning in time for Opening Day shouldn’t be as important as returning to the sphere for the Royals’ first playoff look since their 2015 World Sequence championship was final 12 months. With an extended season forward, it might hardly be a shock if the Royals determined to proceed cautiously with one among their high hitters. A profession .267/.335/.445 (114 wRC+) hitter who posted a 108 wRC+ final 12 months, solely AL MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. and veteran slugger Salvador Perez have been extra worthwhile for Kansas Metropolis final 12 months on the plate than Pasquantino.
Thankfully, the membership is best geared up to deal with an harm of this kind now than final 12 months. Including Jonathan India to the membership’s offense ought to provide one other solidly above-average bat to contribute commonly and lengthen the lineup even when Pasquantino misses time. The membership coincidentally added veteran Mark Canha in a Friday trade with the Brewers. Whereas Canha appeared more likely to be tasked with shoring up the membership’s outfield depth getting into the season, if Pasquantino misses time, the 36-year-old ought to be capable of slide into the primary base job pretty seamlessly and supply at the very least common manufacturing on the place whereas Pasquantino recovers. An injured listing stint for Pasquantino may additionally open the door for out-of-options first baseman Nick Pratto, a lefty-swinging former high prospect who appeared unlikely to interrupt camp with the membership, to fill in and both platoon with Canha or at the very least spell him on days the Royals want to make the most of him within the outfield.
