SURPRISE, Ariz. ¨C Vinnie Pasquantino exited the Royals¡¯ final Cactus League game on Saturday with a right hamstring strain, tweaking it while running out a double play grounder in the top of the fifth inning of the Royals¡¯ 9-5 win over the Rangers at Surprise Stadium.
Pasquantino will be re-evaluated on Sunday in Arlington, Texas, where the Royals are scheduled to play two exhibition games against the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Monday and Tuesday before heading to Kansas City for Opening Day on Thursday.
More imaging will confirm the severity ¨C strains have varying degrees, like Grade 1 and Grade 2 ¨C so the Royals will know a lot more Sunday, including whether Pasquantino will miss any time.
¡°I feel fine,¡± Pasquantino said as he got ready to leave with the team for the airport and then fly to Texas. ¡°I don¡¯t want to put any timeframe on it, but I don¡¯t think ¨C my gut tells me it¡¯s not going to affect anything. But my gut is not the medical staff. So we¡¯ll get it evaluated tomorrow and we¡¯ll see.¡±
The Royals first baseman pulled up as he crossed the bag in the top of the fifth inning and seemed to be favoring his right leg as he walked around.
Pasquantino left the field immediately after with head trainer Kyle Turner, heading straight from the first base area at Surprise Stadium into the Royals clubhouse out on the left field side of the stadium instead of going to the dugout first. It was a long walk across the field, and Pasquantino was walking on his own. He was also scheduled to come out of the game anyway at that time, following three at-bats and four innings in the field.
¡°Just trying to kind of bust it down the line,¡± Pasquantino said. ¡°It just kind of grabbed on me. I don¡¯t believe it¡¯ll be a big deal.¡±
Pasquantino is expected to be the Royals¡¯ everyday first baseman and No. 3 hitter this year, hitting in between Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez as Kansas City¡¯s best three hitters. Pasquantino is coming off a 2024 season in which he drove in 97 runs, hit 19 home runs and slashed .262/.315/.446 in 131 games. He missed the final month of the regular season with a broken right thumb but was able to return to the Royals¡¯ lineup for the postseason.