On Thursday night, the Kansas City Royals lost to the Houston Astros, and it was all due to one disastrous play. As a result, the Royals will also be losing their first baseman for the next two months.
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino will miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured right thumb Thursday night, the Royals said. announced Friday. Pasquantino suffered the injury after a pitch from reliever Lucas Erceg hit the outside of his glove.
Vinnie Pasquantino has a fractured right thumb and is scheduled for further tests today. He could return in six to eight weeks.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 30, 2024
Kansas City defeated the Astros 6-3 after allowing four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in Houston. The first of the four runs came after a failed bare-handed catch and then a botched throw to first, which left Erceg and Pasquantino injured and forced them to leave early.
In other words, with one play, the Royals lost their first baseman, their reliever, the lead and, later, the game.
Pasquantino made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Royals and became Kansas City’s starting first baseman this season. His injury is likely to keep him out at least through the end of the regular season and, likely, into the playoffs.
Erceg’s injury status has not been announced, but his injury does not appear to be that serious.
It’s a tough blow for the Royals, who are 75-60 and just 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the AL Central title. Kansas City is still in wild-card position, but will need to stay strong for the rest of the season to secure a playoff spot, and now they’ll need to do it without their starting first baseman.
The team has three games left in the series against the Astros before returning home for a series against the Guardians.