Royals' Young Star Scratched After Oversleeping

Carter Jensen admits he let down teammates and coaches after missing start against Twins

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping geometric planes of royal blue, powder blue, and white, conveying the fractured nature of a young player's mistake.A cubist interpretation of a young baseball player's mistake, deconstructing the moment into fragmented geometric shapes.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen, a top prospect, was scratched from the lineup against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday after oversleeping and arriving late to the stadium. The 22-year-old shared a remorseful statement, saying he felt like he let down his teammates and coaches, but is determined to learn from the mistake.

Why it matters

Jensen is considered one of the Royals' most promising young players, so his absence from the lineup was a notable setback for the team. Oversleeping and missing a game is an issue that can derail a player's development, so Jensen will need to demonstrate maturity and responsibility moving forward.

The details

In the Royals' 5-1 loss to the Twins, Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup after oversleeping and arriving late to the stadium. He did eventually enter the game in the 9th inning, replacing veteran catcher Salvador Perez to play defense, but did not get an at-bat. Jensen acknowledged he felt like he had let down his teammates and coaches, but vowed it would not happen again.

  • On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Royals played the Twins.
  • Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup due to oversleeping.

The players

Carter Jensen

A 22-year-old catcher who is considered one of the top prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization. He made his MLB debut in 2025 and has shown promise at the plate.

Salvador Perez

The veteran catcher for the Kansas City Royals who started the game against the Twins in place of the scratched Carter Jensen.

Matt Quatraro

The manager of the Kansas City Royals.

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What they’re saying

“Felt like I let teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and know it won't happen again.”

— Carter Jensen, Royals Catcher

What’s next

Jensen will have another opportunity to play on Friday when the Royals take on the Milwaukee Brewers at home. His playing time moving forward will be decided by manager Matt Quatraro.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of professionalism and responsibility for young players trying to establish themselves in the major leagues. Jensen will need to demonstrate he has learned from this mistake in order to maintain the trust of his team and continue his development.