It’s been an undeniably tough week for the Kansas City Royals, marked by a six-game losing streak and a slew of injuries that depleted the roster, only to be replenished with veterans from other teams.
The most significant setback came when first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, the team’s RBI leader, suffered a broken thumb on Thursday night. He’s expected to be out for six to eight weeks, casting doubt on his availability for the playoffs—assuming the Royals can secure a spot.
Despite the grim news, Pasquantino remains optimistic about a return in October. On Tuesday, he cleared his first recovery hurdle with successful thumb surgery, as reported by Royals beat writer Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
“All went well,” acting manager Paul Hoover shared, according to Rogers’ post on X.
The surgery followed Pasquantino’s initial comments on the injury, where he expressed determination to come back this season. “We’re going to attack it, strengthen it, and see what happens. In my mind, my season’s not over. Whether that’s realistic or not, I don’t know,” Pasquantino said on Monday.
In other personnel news, outfielder Hunter Renfroe is nearing a return, although a rehab stint may still be necessary, while first baseman Yuli Gurriel hopes to be available as a pinch-hitter tonight, per Rogers.
The Royals will need contributions from role players like Renfroe and Gurriel to turn things around if they hope to make a playoff push. However, if the losing streak continues, their playoff aspirations might be in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, the potential of a healthy Pasquantino rejoining the lineup in October offers a glimmer of hope. Only time will reveal if the Royals’ fortunes will turn in their favor.