Craig Brown at Into the Fountains wrote about Monday’s series-opening win, but highlighted the power surge from Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
That ball had a launch angle of 19 degrees. It was just the second time in Pasquantino’s career that he’s hit one over the wall with a launch angle below 21 degrees. His all-time low launch angle is 17 degrees, which he did in 2022 against Michael Pineda and the Detroit Tigers. This home run came with the score tied 1-1 and followed a leadoff walk
to Bobby Witt Jr. Witt had gone to second on a wild pitch. I’m going to posit here that we’re seeing the benefits of Pasquantino hitting behind Witt, who has shown improvement in his base-stealing game this year. Pitchers are increasingly distracted with Witt on the bases. They’re going to make mistakes. And they’ve been making them to Pasquantino of late.
Royals Data Dugout looks at what Royals outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is doing with more opportunities at the top of Kansas City’s lineup.
Throughout his seven-year MLB career, Yas has carried strong walk rates that help inflate his .238 career average to a .323 career OBP, and those tendencies have played a huge part in his success as Kansas City’s leadoff man against right-handed pitching. In 41 plate appearances since Aug. 6, when he took the job from India, Yaz is averaging 4.9 pitches seen each time he heads to the dish. While donning a Kansas City uniform, his already low chase rate has flattened out to a pesky 19.4% O-Swing, per Statcast, while his Z-Contact has jumped from 86.5% with the Giants to 92.6% with the Royals. He’s become a truly annoying at-bat for opposing pitchers with an ability to lay off pitches outside the zone while squaring up the offerings that do cross the plate.
Whenever a Royals player is mentioned alongside the late great Rickey Henderson, it is worth noting.
David Lesky at Inside the Crown finds what could be the Royals’ power turning point amidst a home-run-heavy attack from Kansas City.
The Royals hit three home runs in a 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks on July 4. They’ve been hitting home runs ever since. Including the three they hit last night, they’ve now hit 58 in their last 37 games, which just so happens to equal the total they had hit in the 88 games leading up to that Independence Day game in Arizona. You might not be too surprised to know they’ve scored 185 runs in those 37 games, which is exactly five per game. You also might not be surprised to know they’re now 23-14 in those 37 games after scoring just 3.3 runs per game to start the season.
I don’t really know exactly what happened when they got to Arizona, but the course of the season changed that night and has put the Royals in a spot I did not expect them to be in even as recently as maybe three weeks ago. But here they sit, after winning their fourth straight game and 24th out of the last 38 (they did win the night before the offense shifted), just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot with 37 to play. Last night was a game they almost definitely don’t win early July and probably a game they don’t win especially often in franchise history.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is already a shortstop, but represents a select few five-tool wonders according to Baseball America.
Witt represents the new guard of multi-dimensional superstars. He finished runner-up to Aaron Judge for 2024 AL MVP and is a two-time all-star who won a Gold Glove last year. He has stolen at least 30 bases in each of his four MLB seasons while twice reaching 30 homers.
Best Tools category wins: Best Defensive SS, Fastest Baserunner and Best Baserunner
Other top three finishes: Best Hitter, Most Exciting Player and Best Infield Arm
Royals catching prospect Carter Jensen is raking against Triple-A competition, but the numbers beyond the box score show promise as well.
While there is some swing-and-miss in Jensen’s profile, he’s also facing the highest level of competition in the minors and producing. He shows average bat-to-ball skills, but they come with above-average approach and plus power. Jensen thrives by consistently producing hard contact. He’s not fully optimized for pullside power, but he has the type of power that allows him to hit the ball out to any part of the park. His underlying power is plus with at least average plate skills supporting it. Jensen could be in the Royals’ plans for a September callup, as he’s more than earned it.
Kansas City will not have to face Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom this week.
The Royals remain in the muddy middle of The Athletic’s latest power rankings, coming in at 16th.
The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt dives deeper into what MLB realignment could look like after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred brought up the possibility this past weekend.
Baseball America’s Jacob Rudner looks at how the robust transfer portal is impacting the beloved collegiate summer leagues.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers talks with teammates to answer what makes Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal so great.
Lance Brozdowski looks at a trio of starting pitchers, including a scuffling Spencer Strider.
Mexico’s women’s flag football team won their second-straight World Games gold, defeating Team USA in walk-off fashion.
Could the Super Bowl really travel across the pond?
Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles earned a suspension for throwing a bat.
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has some choice words for MLB replay officials after questionable fan interference call on Monday.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte apologizes for a recent absence that coincided with his team’s fall from playoff contention.
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gets good news after an MRI showed left hamstring inflammation and he is considered day-to-day.
Only 364 days until the anniversary of this Royals-related moment.
The Kansas City Chiefs are serving up some new concession items this season.
How are Kansas City-area leaders looking to make youth sports more accessible?
A San Antonio library received a library book 82 years late, complete with an explanation.
Today’s song of the day is Sleeping on the Blacktop by Colter Wall.
