Kansas City Royals: Vinnie Pasquantino even better than expected

Newly minted Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was drafted without much fanfare in 2019 despite a strong college career at Old Dominion. In just a few short years, the slugging first baseman has rewarded the Royals’ faith.

Pasquantino first started to find himself on prospect lists before the 2022 season, during which he made his MLB debut. In just 72 games, the lefty hit 10 home runs with an .833 OPS, and walked 35 times against 34 strikeouts. The 2023 season has been even better than that.

While dropping his strikeout percentage to just 9.9 percent, Pasquantino has raised his OPS to .848. It may not seem like a massive change, but Pasquantino has nearly matched his home run total from last season, hitting seven in just 42 games.

Vinnie Pasquantino just what Kansas City Royals need

All this comes when the Royals need it most, as the team has started a dreadful 12-30, the second-worst record behind Oakland. With Salvador Perez nearing the end of a storied career, Kansas City may have found their next franchise cornerstone. The Royals are no strangers to great first baseman, as Eric Hosmer spent his best seasons suiting up for great teams in the mid 2010s. Now the long-awaited heir apparent has arrived.

Pasquantino not only has displayed elite plate discipline, but has also mashed when pitchers make mistakes. Pasquantino’s 46.8 hard hit percentage ranks in the 79th percentile of the league, despite a below-average barrel rate. Clearly, the lefty has more than enough strength to compensate for a relative miss-hit.

Kansas City’s farm system is full of potential impact players, although the meat of their system is still a couple seasons away. Between Pasquantino, Bobby Witt, and Nick Pratto, the basis of a strong lineup is awaiting capable reinforcements. While it is hardly time to squash a season, Kansas City is likely to sell rather than buy at the MLB Trade Deadline, which could add to a strong farm system.

Time will tell if Pasquantino continues his torrid pace, but Kansas City would be wise to begin discussions about a contract extension before their next contention window.