Bobby Witt Jr. keeps stacking milestones, and Carter Jensen is making history look routine.
Even in a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Royals had two offensive bright spots who left their mark on the record book. Witt swiped his 40th stolen base of the season, while Jensen launched his 24th home run and kept his extraordinary extra-base streak rolling.
Witt opened his day with an infield hit, then took off for second to reach the 40-steal mark for the second time in his career. He finished with 49 steals in 2023, and now sits among just five players in Royals history with multiple 40-steal seasons.
With 13 games left, he’s also two homers away from becoming the third player in franchise history to post a 20-homer, 40-steal season. His 2023 line of 30 homers and 49 steals, along with Carlos Beltran’s 2003 season of 26 and 41, are the only two such seasons in team history.
Jensen’s night carried its own weight. After helping the Royals win Friday’s series opener 3-2, the rookie catcher tied Saturday’s game at 1-1 when he sent a Ranger Suarez slider around the Pesky Pole for his 24th homer. That tied him with Bob Hamelin’s 1994 total for the most home runs by a Royals rookie.
“It's incredible,” Jensen said of Witt. “Not just on the basepaths, but everything he does.
The way he plays defense. The way he hits.
The way he goes about his business, just the type of player he is, the type of teammate he is. It's all top of the list, and he's incredible to be around, so it's been a lot of fun watching.”
Witt returned the praise when asked about Jensen’s surge.
“It's been special, just the professional at-bats he's been taking and just how he's coming into his own,” Witt said of Jensen. “Being able to do that is special and then, hopefully, break the record here.”
Manager Matt Quatraro also pointed to Witt’s evolution as a runner.
“He's always had the speed, but I'm really proud of him for increasing his percentage over the years,” Quatraro said. “I think he's gotten much better at his jumps, his breaks, his leads and all those things.
It’s become more of a science to him as opposed to just the natural skill. It’s really cool to see.”
Quatraro had plenty to say about Jensen too.
“That's a phenomenal record,” Quatraro said. “We know that he's been on a tear here offensively as of late, so good for him. And it was not only that, but it tied the game.”
Jensen’s sixth-inning blast also extended a remarkable run. It was his 12th straight hit for extra bases, moving him past Yankees star Aaron Judge’s 2017 stretch for the most consecutive extra-base hits by a rookie in the Expansion Era.
The Royals also got another lineup addition back on Saturday. Jac Caglianone returned to game action for the first time in a week after a flexor strain in his left elbow suffered against the Blue Jays. He pinch-hit in the eighth inning and struck out against Red Sox setup man Garrett Whitlock.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez remain in the mix, and now Kansas City has one more bat back as it closes out the season.
In Other News...
Royals Finally Got An Encouraging Jac Caglianone Injury Sign
Jac Caglianone took a meaningful step forward this week by getting back on the field for batting practice, his first such session since suffering a Grade 1 flexor strain in his left elbow. For a Royals team tracking every update on his recovery, that alone counts as encouraging news, especially after he had been limited to the margins while working his way back from the injury.
Matt Quatraro struck a hopeful tone about where Caglianone stands, though he stopped short of saying whether the young hitter would be available to pinch-hit in the next game. Caglianone still has not resumed throwing with game intensity, but he did make several throws during batting practice, another sign that the rehab process is moving in the right direction as Kansas City waits for the next checkpoint. [Read more 🡒]
Seth Lugo Gave The Royals Something They Had Been Missing On The Road
Road games have been a grind for Kansas City for much of the season, so Seth Lugos night at Fenway Park stood out for more than just the result. The right-hander settled in after Boston put up some early pressure, held the Red Sox to two runs over five innings and picked up his seventh win in a 3-2 Royals victory. Kansas City also got an encouraging showing from rookie Carter Jensen, who doubled twice and scored twice, while the bullpen took care of the rest with scoreless work to close it out.
For a club that has needed more dependable starts away from home, Lugo gave them the kind of steady outing that can travel. The Royals are still well below .500 at 66-82, but this was the sort of win that can matter in a season like this, especially with a young lineup contributor like Jensen making his Fenway debut look comfortable and the relief corps protecting a slim lead against a Boston team that has now dropped three straight. [Read more 🡒]
Nate Pearson Is Giving The Royals A Bullpen Decision To Make
Nate Pearson arrived in Kansas City in late July with the kind of arm that can change the conversation in a bullpen, and he has spent the weeks since backing that up. In 21 innings for the Royals, the right-hander has allowed just one earned run and piled up 20 strikeouts, giving the club a late-season look at a power pitcher who has fit in quickly after coming over from Houston.
Pearsons immediate impact has also created an offseason decision the Royals will have to sort through. Kansas City controls him through the 2027 season, which gives the front office some flexibility, but it also raises the question of whether his recent work has made him a legitimate piece for next years bullpen rather than just a short-term arm added for depth. [Read more 🡒]