Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen learned a harsh lesson in punctuality on Thursday, when he was scratched from the starting lineup against the Minnesota Twins after oversleeping and arriving late to Kauffman Stadium.
The 22-year-old top prospect, who has appeared in just 26 major league games, slept through his alarm, prompting the team to rearrange their plans in the final hour before first pitch.
Manager Matt Quatraro described the incident as an “oversight” and noted that Jensen, a hard-working and accountable young player, felt terrible about letting his teammates down.
“Overslept. Wasn’t here on time, and we made the decision to scratch him from the lineup,” Quatraro said, via MLB.com. “He’s a stand-up guy, a really hard worker, a great kid. He feels terrible. He’s accountable to it. It’s not something that has been a pattern or any of that kind of stuff. Nobody feels worse than he does, and I think he’ll admit to that. And we’ll move on.”
Veteran Salvador Perez shifted from designated hitter to catcher duties, handling the first eight innings before Jensen entered defensively in the ninth of the Royals’ 5-1 defeat.
Vinnie Pasquantino revealed the club’s initial concern led them to contact Jensen’s parents to ensure the young athlete was safe. Once confirmed, the focus turned to growth. Pasquantino stressed that such lapses cannot occur at this level, adding lightheartedly that perhaps another alarm clock might help.
“We’re glad Carter’s OK, right? That was kind of the initial thought when you’re trying to get a hold of his parents and everything like that,” Pasquantino said. “But once you find out he’s OK, it’s like, ‘All right, it’s a growing moment.'”
Jensen owned the mistake, admitting he woke up in a panic and vowing to set “a million alarms” going forward. He expressed regret for disappointing coaches and teammates but committed to ensuring it never happens again.
“No running from it,” Jensen said. “Just didn’t wake up to my alarm. Slept through it. Don’t really have an excuse, nor should I. It sucks. Happens. I felt like I let my teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and know it won’t happen again.”
In professional baseball, where preparation is paramount, even a brief slumber can disrupt an entire dugout. For Jensen, this wakeup call may prove more valuable than any hit he records this season.
