Royals' Carter Jensen Hits Home Runs After Oversleeping Incident

Fans react with alarm clock jokes as young catcher bounces back from early season blunder.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:38pm

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An extreme close-up of a baseball player's powerful swing, with vibrant neon brushstrokes capturing the raw energy and motion of the hit. The player's face and uniform are obscured, focusing the viewer's attention on the dynamic action of the swing.A young Royals catcher finds his power stroke after a high-profile early-season blunder, sparking a wave of fan reactions.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen, who made headlines earlier this season for oversleeping and missing a game, has now hit home runs in back-to-back games. Fans have responded with a flurry of alarm clock-related jokes on social media, but the 22-year-old prospect is looking to move past the incident and continue his strong start to the 2026 season.

Why it matters

Jensen is considered one of the top prospects in the Royals' organization and in all of baseball, so his early-season struggles and subsequent bounce-back performance are closely watched by the team and its fanbase. The oversleeping incident highlighted the challenges young players can face transitioning to the major leagues, but Jensen's recent power display shows he has the talent to succeed at the highest level.

The details

After being infamously scratched from the Royals' lineup due to oversleeping, 22-year-old catcher Carter Jensen has now hit home runs in back-to-back games against the Cleveland Guardians. Fans have reacted with a flood of alarm clock-related jokes on social media, poking fun at Jensen's early-season blunder. However, the young catcher has been able to block out the noise and continue producing at the plate, raising his batting average to .259 with three home runs and six RBIs through his first 10 games of the 2026 season.

  • On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Jensen hit a home run in the Royals' 2-1 loss to the Guardians.
  • Earlier this season, Jensen was scratched from the Royals' lineup due to oversleeping.

The players

Carter Jensen

A 22-year-old catcher for the Kansas City Royals, considered the top prospect in the organization and the 15th-best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. He made headlines earlier this season for oversleeping and missing a game, but has since bounced back with home runs in back-to-back contests.

Kansas City Royals

The Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri, who are hoping Carter Jensen can develop into a key part of their future.

Cleveland Guardians

The Major League Baseball team that the Royals faced on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, when Carter Jensen hit a home run in a 2-1 loss.

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What they’re saying

“That extra sleep did him good!”

— Retail Investor Guy

“See what happens when you set your alarm clock!”

— SoxIsKing

“He woke up!”

— Baseball enjoyer

What’s next

The Royals will hope that Carter Jensen can continue his hot hitting and put the oversleeping incident behind him as the team looks to compete in the AL Central division.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges young players can face when transitioning to the major leagues, as well as the importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from early-season struggles. Jensen's power display after his high-profile blunder shows the Royals' top prospect has the talent to succeed at the highest level.