All you need to know about how did Kansas City Royals’ star player Vinnie Pasquantino got injured and his return timeline.
Vinnie Pasquantino, the first baseman for the Kansas City Royals, was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his right shoulder last week, and the team announced that he will require surgery to repair the tear. It is anticipated that he will be out for the remainder of the 2023 season. It is a terrible turn of events for a Royals team that was already in last place. The Royals have won the fewest games in all of baseball (18), and their run differential is the second-worst in the sport (-104).
Since the beginning of the previous season, he has participated in 133 games for the Royals and accumulated 558 plate appearances. His batting line for those games is.272/.355/.444 with 19 home runs and 27 doubles. In the first two months of the season, Pasquantino posted a slash line of.267/.343/.471, but as soon as the calendar turned to June, his batting performance began to deteriorate.
The left-handed batter managed only one hit across all of his plate appearances on June 23. Given that there was no one particular play on which it is known that he sustained the injury, it is certainly possible that it was affecting him throughout that cold streak prior to him ultimately landing on the injured list.
Nick Pratto, another homegrown first baseman, is likely going to take over as the everyday starter at first base now that Pasquantino has been placed on the injured list. Pratto’s promising bat had already been in the lineup for Kansas City as frequently as possible, and the Royals had been giving him time at designated hitter and in the corner outfield positions to maximize his exposure to big-league pitching.
To this point in the 2023 season, Pasquantino has been one of the only good hitters for the Royals. According to the wRC+ metric, he, Pratto, Salvador Perez, utilityman Matt Duffy, and outfielder Edward Olivares are the only hitters for Kansas City with an offensive output that is even slightly above average.
Vinnie Pasquantino was drafted into Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2021. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round of the MLB Draft, with the 320th overall pick. This marked the beginning of his professional baseball journey.
Before his professional career, Pasquantino attended James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He played college baseball for the JMU Dukes, where he established himself as a standout player. Pasquantino’s impressive performances on the field caught the attention of scouts, and his power-hitting abilities and consistent offensive production made him an attractive prospect.
During his time at JMU, Pasquantino was a force at the plate. He displayed excellent power and the ability to drive in runs, earning recognition as one of the top college hitters in the country. In his junior season in 2021, Pasquantino hit .349 with 19 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .696 slugging percentage, showcasing his raw power and offensive capabilities.
Following his outstanding collegiate career, Pasquantino was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. He signed with the organization and embarked on his professional journey. In his first professional season, Pasquantino has continued to impress. He has showcased his power-hitting skills and ability to drive in runs, demonstrating why he was highly regarded as a college player. As he progresses through the minor league system, Pasquantino will have the opportunity to further develop his skills and prove himself at higher levels of competition.
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