Carter Jensen misses game after sleeping through alarm, prompting team response and raising questions about rookie accountability and professionalism
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Apr 03, 2026, 20:14 IST
Rookie catcher Carter Jensen gets scratched from Royals' starting lineup after oversleeping
In an unexpected turn of events, Kansas City Royals prospect Carter Jensen lost track of time and missed the game, prompting veteran Salvador Perez to step into a new role. Jensen reached out to his teammates and coaches, expressing his sincerest regrets. Manager Matt Quatraro acknowledged Jensen's commitment, noting the young player's remorse.
Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen missed his team's game against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon after sleeping through his alarm. This unexpected absence required veteran Salvador Perez to shift from designated hitter back to catcher, a change made shortly before the game. Jensen, the Royals' top prospect, explained his tardiness to reporters, stating, "No running from it. 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."
Royals manager Matt Quatraro addressed the situation, describing Jensen as "a stand-up guy, a really hard worker, a great kid. He feels terrible. He’s accountable to it. It’s not something that has been a pattern or any of that kind of stuff. Nobody feels worse than he does, and I think he’ll admit to that. And we’ll move on."
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino offered a more direct perspective, speaking to Jensen in a manner akin to an older teammate. He highlighted the disruption caused by Jensen's absence, noting, "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 also acknowledged Perez's readiness, stating, "Credit to Salvy today for being ready, first and foremost. 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. But once you find out he’s OK, it’s like, ‘All right, it’s a growing moment.’"
Pasquantino emphasized the seriousness of the situation for a professional athlete. "He’s really young. There are some things that cannot happen, and that’s one of them. He’s going to have to wear it on the chin, same way anybody would have to. It can’t happen." He suggested Jensen might need to improve his wake-up strategy, adding that the team is "here for him," but he also believes Jensen should likely invest in "another alarm clock or something."
Jensen himself acknowledged the need for a more robust alarm system. "There’s a lot to learn from it. Making sure if I don’t set one alarm, maybe set three, four, as many as possible. Moving forward, that’s what I’m going to do. Set a million alarms. Make sure I’m up. It stinks, though."
Carter Jensen is recognized as the Royals' top prospect. The 6-foot, 210-pound catcher is ranked No. 16 overall by MLB Pipeline in 2026. In his initial six games of the 2026 season, Jensen recorded two hits in 16 at-bats, including one home run and two runs batted in. The incident occurred during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup late, leading to the unexpected change for Salvador Perez. The initial concern upon Jensen's unavailability was for his well-being, with attempts made to contact his parents. Once it was confirmed he was alright, the focus shifted to the developmental aspect of the situation. The game itself resulted in a 5-1 loss for the Royals. Jensen was seen catching warmup pitches earlier in the game, which prompted curiosity from reporters regarding his availability. The date of the game was Thursday, March 26, 2026. Jensen's absence was due to him sleeping through his alarm and not arriving at the stadium in time for proper preparation. The article also mentions the New York Yankees and their fanbase's optimism for the upcoming season, a separate point from the Royals' story.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro addressed the situation, describing Jensen as "a stand-up guy, a really hard worker, a great kid. He feels terrible. He’s accountable to it. It’s not something that has been a pattern or any of that kind of stuff. Nobody feels worse than he does, and I think he’ll admit to that. And we’ll move on."
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino offered a more direct perspective, speaking to Jensen in a manner akin to an older teammate. He highlighted the disruption caused by Jensen's absence, noting, "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 also acknowledged Perez's readiness, stating, "Credit to Salvy today for being ready, first and foremost. 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. But once you find out he’s OK, it’s like, ‘All right, it’s a growing moment.’"
Pasquantino emphasized the seriousness of the situation for a professional athlete. "He’s really young. There are some things that cannot happen, and that’s one of them. He’s going to have to wear it on the chin, same way anybody would have to. It can’t happen." He suggested Jensen might need to improve his wake-up strategy, adding that the team is "here for him," but he also believes Jensen should likely invest in "another alarm clock or something."
Jensen himself acknowledged the need for a more robust alarm system. "There’s a lot to learn from it. Making sure if I don’t set one alarm, maybe set three, four, as many as possible. Moving forward, that’s what I’m going to do. Set a million alarms. Make sure I’m up. It stinks, though."
Carter Jensen is recognized as the Royals' top prospect. The 6-foot, 210-pound catcher is ranked No. 16 overall by MLB Pipeline in 2026. In his initial six games of the 2026 season, Jensen recorded two hits in 16 at-bats, including one home run and two runs batted in. The incident occurred during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup late, leading to the unexpected change for Salvador Perez. The initial concern upon Jensen's unavailability was for his well-being, with attempts made to contact his parents. Once it was confirmed he was alright, the focus shifted to the developmental aspect of the situation. The game itself resulted in a 5-1 loss for the Royals. Jensen was seen catching warmup pitches earlier in the game, which prompted curiosity from reporters regarding his availability. The date of the game was Thursday, March 26, 2026. Jensen's absence was due to him sleeping through his alarm and not arriving at the stadium in time for proper preparation. The article also mentions the New York Yankees and their fanbase's optimism for the upcoming season, a separate point from the Royals' story.