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The Kansas City Royals were forced to scratch starting catcher Carter Jensen from their lineup against the Minnesota Twins after he slept through his alarm and missed the team’s pregame preparations. Veteran Salvador Perez stepped in behind the plate, but the Royals went on to lose the game 5-1.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the importance of player availability and preparedness in professional sports, where even small lapses can have significant impacts on a team’s performance and chances of winning. It also raises questions about team policies and player accountability around punctuality and game-day responsibilities.
The details
According to the team, Jensen overslept and missed the Royals’ pregame meeting and warmups, leading manager Mike Matheny to scratch him from the starting lineup. Perez, the Royals’ regular starting catcher, was pressed into duty on short notice and the team was unable to overcome the late lineup change, falling 5-1 to the Twins.
- The incident occurred on the morning of April 3, 2026, ahead of the Royals’ game against the Minnesota Twins.
The players
Carter Jensen
The Royals’ starting catcher who was scratched from the lineup after oversleeping and missing the team’s pregame preparations.
Salvador Perez
The Royals’ veteran starting catcher who had to fill in on short notice after Jensen was scratched.
Mike Matheny
The manager of the Kansas City Royals who made the decision to scratch Jensen from the lineup.
Minnesota Twins
The opposing team that the Royals were scheduled to play, and who went on to win the game 5-1 after the Royals’ lineup change.
What they’re saying
“We expect our players to be professional and accountable, and unfortunately Carter let the team down today. These things happen, but we have to move forward and learn from it.”
— Mike Matheny, Royals Manager
What’s next
The Royals will look to bounce back in their next game against the Twins, with Jensen expected to return to the lineup barring any further issues.
The takeaway
This incident serves as a reminder that even small lapses in preparation can have significant impacts in professional sports, underscoring the need for players to be diligent and accountable to their teams and teammates.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source nationaltoday.com ’
