Most things have gone right for the Kansas City Royals, who are one of the surprise success stories of the 2024 Major League Baseball season. Now, they'll have to deal with some adversity.
The Royals dropped their series opener with the fellow American League playoff-hopeful Houston Astros on Thursday, 4-3. And the loss on the scoreboard was nothing compared to the loss the Royals suffered in the middle of their lineup.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Royals led 3-2 when the Astros' Yainer Diaz grounded a ball back to pitcher Lucas Erceg. Erceg tried to barehand the grounder, dropped it, picked it back up, and threw wildly to first baseman Pasquantino, allowing the tying run to score.
Both Pasquantino and Erceg left the game after the play, as the throw pulled the star first baseman into the path of the runner, causing a collision that injured Pasquantino's glove hand. On Friday, the Royals got the news they were dreading.
The Royals announced on X that Pasquantino, in the middle of a monster second half at the plate, suffered a broken thumb. He is headed to the 15-day injured list, and could miss the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
"Vinnie Pasquantino has a broken right thumb, and further tests are scheduled today," the Royals' tweet said. "He could return in six to eight weeks."
An announcement has not yet been made regarding the status of Erceg, who was also scheduled to undergo X-rays on his throwing hand.
It's a brutal blow for Kansas City's number-three hitter, who was in the middle of a big season, especially after the All-Star break. The 26-year-old has a .262/.315/.446 slash line overall, with 19 home runs. He currently ranks fourth in all of baseball with 97 RBI.
If Pasquantino were to return in six weeks, the low end of the range given by the club, that would put him on track to play in the ALCS. The Royals haven't made it that far since they won the 2015 World Series, so they'll need some magic from the rest of their roster.
The show must go on, and as long as Kansas City has superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., they'll always have a fighting chance. But this is undoubtedly a tough pill for the Royals to swallow.
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