Royals Scratch Rookie Jensen After Oversleeping for Twins Game

Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup Thursday after oversleeping and arriving late to Kauffman Stadium for the team's afternoon game against the Minnesota Twins, forcing a last-minute adjustment that contributed to a 5-1 loss.

The 22-year-old Jensen, a Kansas City native drafted by the Royals in the third round in 2021, slept through his alarm and missed pregame preparations for the 1:10 p.m. local time matchup. Unable to reach him initially, team staff contacted his parents to ensure his safety, according to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Once confirmed he was unharmed, the focus shifted to accountability. Manager Matt Quatraro described the incident as an oversight, noting it was not a pattern for the hardworking rookie. "Overslept. Wasn't here on time, and we made the decision to scratch him from the lineup," Quatraro said. "He's a standup guy, a really hard worker, a great kid. He feels terrible. He's accountable to it. ... We'll move on."

With Jensen unavailable to start, veteran All-Star Salvador Perez shifted from his planned designated hitter role to catcher, handling duties for the first eight innings. The 36-year-old...