Rookie Catcher Scratched From Royals Lineup After Oversleeping

Carter Jensen arrived late to the ballpark, forcing Kansas City to adjust its starting lineup.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes, conveying the chaotic energy and high pressure of a professional sports event.A young catcher's oversleeping mishap forces a veteran teammate to step up and fill in, exposing the high stakes of professional baseball's unforgiving schedule.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen was removed from the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Minnesota Twins after he overslept and arrived late to the ballpark. Jensen eventually made it to the stadium, but not in time to properly prepare to start the game. Veteran catcher Salvador Perez ended up filling in behind the plate for the first eight innings of the Royals' 5-1 loss.

Why it matters

Oversleeping and missing a game is a rare occurrence in professional baseball, where players are expected to maintain a strict routine and be ready to play every day. This incident highlights the challenges young players can face in adjusting to the rigors of the major league schedule.

The details

Jensen told reporters that he 'didn't wake up to my alarm' and 'slept through it,' taking responsibility for the mistake. He arrived at the stadium eventually, but not early enough to properly warm up and prepare to start the game. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said Jensen needs to learn from this experience, noting 'there are some things that cannot happen, and that's one of them.'

  • On April 3, 2026, Jensen overslept and missed the Royals' starting lineup.

The players

Carter Jensen

A 22-year-old rookie catcher for the Kansas City Royals.

Salvador Perez

The Royals' veteran catcher who ended up filling in behind the plate for the first eight innings of the game.

Vinnie Pasquantino

The Royals' first baseman who commented on Jensen's mistake and the need for him to learn from the experience.

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What they’re saying

“'I didn't wake up to my alarm. Slept through it. Don't really have an excuse — nor should I. It sucks. It happens. I feel like I let teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and just know it won't happen again.'”

— Carter Jensen, Royals Catcher

“'First and foremost, I'm glad Carter's OK. I mean, that was kind of the initial thought when you're trying to get a hold of his parents and everything like that — just make sure he's OK.'”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals First Baseman

“'There are some things that cannot happen, and that's one of them. So he's going to have to wear it on the chin — same way anybody would have to. It can't happen, and hopefully it doesn't happen again. But it's one of those things that you just can't afford mistakes like that in this game. Just got to move forward the best that he can. I know he feels really bad.'”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals First Baseman

What’s next

The Royals will likely continue to monitor Jensen's punctuality and preparedness, and he will need to demonstrate that this was an isolated incident in order to maintain his spot on the major league roster.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that even the most talented young players must adapt to the rigorous demands of professional baseball, where being ready to play every day is a non-negotiable requirement. Jensen's mistake highlights the importance of developing strong routines and habits to ensure he is always prepared to contribute to his team.