There could be many reasons for a rookie to get scratched off the lineup at the very last moment. They could be struggling at the plate, having disciplinary issues, or even personal matters. A rookie on the Royals, however, might’ve just found the strangest reason ever to be dropped. As the Royals pulled out their top prospect, Carter Jensen, against the Twins on Thursday, fans wondered about what could be the reason. However, just as the Royals manager Matt Quatraro clarified following the game, the bizarre event came to light.

“Carter Jensen overslept this morning and was scratched from the lineup. Big mistake but completely owned up to it postgame,” Royals insider Anne Rogers shared via X.

Jensen was in the Royals’ lineup as their starting catcher against the Twins, but as Salvador Perez got behind home plate in the game, fans were curious. The curiosity escalated when Jensen was seen catching warm-up pitches in the game and came in the ninth inning.

“Carter had an oversight,” Quatraro said following the game. “Overslept. Wasn’t here on time, and we decided to scratch him from the lineup.”

So, as the Royals went down 1-5 against the Twins, Jensen cleared the air. He slept through his alarm and missed the pregame meeting and warmups. The Royals had no other option but to urgently ask Perez to take up the catcher role. And the rookie admits it.

“No running from it,” Jensen said after. “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.”

Although it sounds strange, the Royals front office didn’t initially see it as a disciplinary matter but as a medical emergency. According to Vinnie Pasquantino, the team’s concern led them to call Jensen’s parents to confirm if he was safe. That was when everyone became aware of the situation, and the front office took it as a disciplinary breach, and it was for the rookie’s benefit.

“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 eventually entered the game to catch the top of the ninth inning, but he never got an at-bat because his spot in the order didn’t come up in the bottom half. The Kansas City Royals are fielding Jensen as the future replacement of Perez. The 6-foot, 210-pound rookie catcher is ranked No. 16 overall by MLB Pipeline in 2026. Moreover, he is coming off a great 2025.

Last year, Jensen dominated Triple-A, recording 14 homers at .288. After his debut in the majors in September, he scored three HRs at .300 in 69 big-league plate appearances.

But as he got scratched off in the most crucial time, Perez acted as a true team man. “You got a 36-year-old catcher preparing to DH today, and then his world gets a little rocked an hour and a half before the game that he’s not going to be DH-ing,” Pasquantino said. “Credit to Salvy today for being ready, first and foremost.”

Although Perez had just one hit in four at-bats, he deserves credit for getting ready on short notice and taking over the catcher role.

Quatraro might have to worry about the Royals’ offense

While Jensen’s incident came up as a one-off event, the Royals’ offense’s rollercoaster ride is concerning. Just a day after a 13-run, 15-hit barrage against the Twins, the Royals scored just one run on seven hits on Thursday. What’s more concerning was how the Royals’ lineup failed to deal with the Twins starter Taj Bradley.

As Bradley shut down the Royals with six scoreless innings, it offered a reality check to the Royals’ offense’s consistency. “We just got to keep fighting from the offensive side,” Pasquantino said. Well, the fighting spirit was absent on Thursday.

Still, the real positive for the Royals, if any, was their rotation. Especially after Cole Ragans gave up four runs on his opening day, fans were worried. However, Ragans is back and how.

He pitched six innings on Thursday, allowed one run, and struck out eight batters. His innings were highlighted by changeups and sliders and contributed to a 40% whiff rate.

But again, Ragans’ dominance went in vain as the Royals’ relief corps blew up the opportunity. In the ninth inning, Steven Cruz gave up three homers, taking the game away from the Royals.

So, while Jensen will be back in the next game, it’s more urgent for their offense and bullpen to come back to their best immediately.