Saturday, May 02

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WEST SACRAMENTO -- A catcher on game day is one of the busiest people at the ballpark, and sometimes that day starts the night before with initial preparation on scouting reports. Then, pregame prep includes poring over reports, meeting with the starting pitcher to formulate the game plan, getting his body ready to catch nine innings and doing all the hitting work to get ready for the offensive part of his game.

“Catching at the Major League level is really, really complicated,” said Royals bench coach Paul Hoover, who also oversees the team’s catchers.

Carter Jensen has been a catcher his entire career and isn't a stranger to the demands of the position. But catching in the big leagues is a different test when it comes to game preparation, run prevention, gaining pitchers’ trust and navigating through a game.

“I knew the big leagues were a lot different than the Minor Leagues, and there’s not really a way to prepare you fully for that,” Jensen said. “So I’m just trying to be a sponge and learn from other players, coaches, staff, everybody. Trying to learn as quickly as I can and as much as I can to cut the adjustment period shorter.”

Offensively, Jensen has been one of the Royals’ best hitters this year with an .818 OPS and in the lineup nearly every day, no matter the opposing starter. Defensively, it has been an adjustment as he gets more opportunities behind the plate, and the Royals are continuing to believe in and lean on the 22-year-old through the ups and downs that they know happen with a young big leaguer, especially at such a demanding position. 

Jensen’s tools and offensive upside made him one of baseball’s top catching prospects before he graduated from prospect status this season, and he’s made immense strides since the Royals drafted him in 2021. Scouts questioned his ability to stay behind the plate back then; now the question is not whether he can be a big league catcher, but when and if Jensen can succeed Salvador Perez whenever that time comes.

“We’re trying our best to help him in all phases, on both sides of the ball,” Hoover said. “With defense in particular, the pitching group is doing things to help him better understand our pitchers, our strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opposition’s. On the defensive side, we’re working daily to try to continue to get better. He cares a ton about his job and what he’s trying to do. He’s been incredible to be around because he’s willing to put the work in.”

Metrically, Jensen grades well with his framing; his 2 catcher framing runs rank in the 93rd percentile. But his -5 blocks above average stand out as something that needs improvement. Jensen has made two errors behind the plate and has been charged with three passed balls, including two on Sunday against the Angels in the ninth and 10th innings. Teams also haven’t been afraid to run on Jensen yet; of the 11 stolen-base attempts with Jensen behind the plate, he’s caught three baserunners (27%).

Jensen has just 173 2/3 career innings behind the plate with Kansas City, and mistakes are going to happen for any player in this game, no matter how young and inexperienced they are. What matters most is how they respond, and Jensen is focused on learning from all of his mistakes.

“A lot of it is with Hoov, going over my game,” Jensen said. “We’re looking at strikes stolen, strikes lost. The throws I make. The blocks. Looking at everything as a whole and reflecting on pitch-calling and all that stuff. Learning how we attack guys and putting that to use for the next time.”

The after-action report Jensen receives after each game he starts is detailed. He and Hoover won’t go through the entire game, but they will pick out key moments or pitches to evaluate what went well or what didn’t.

“Carter is very cerebral,” Hoover said. “When we watch a video clip together, he’ll tell me what I’m going to say. He’s able to see it, he’s aware, and now it’s a matter of making sure we get the good reps to iron it all out so the bad reps don’t keep showing up. Whether it’s body movement or too much movement with the glove or a timing issue, there are a lot of things that go into it. The younger you are, the fewer reps you have. The more reps you get, the easier it becomes.”

The Royals went 10-17 in April, enduring a season-high eight-game losing streak in the middle of the month but playing better near the end. As the calendar flips to May, the Royals hope to carry the momentum they found at the end of last month into this month. 

They have a chance to shake up the division standings with what’s coming:

• Next week: They have a seven-game homestand against the American League Central, with four games against the Guardians and three against the Tigers. The Royals are 5-8 in the division so far. They lost an early series in Cleveland and were swept in Detroit last month.
• May 12-14: The division play doesn’t stop after the homestand, with the Royals going to Chicago to face the White Sox.
• May 25-27: The Yankees come to town just over a month after the Royals were swept in the Bronx in a frustrating series that exposed a lot of weaknesses. Kansas City always has a tough time playing the Yankees. Can they flip that script now?

“Been a crazy year. Really good season last year, and a lot of big things just happening in life. Couldn’t be more blessed, more thankful for the last year. Tough one today, to throw on the one-year anniversary, not throwing well. But we’re going to turn it around. Keep fighting, keep battling every day.” -- Noah Cameron on Thursday, the first anniversary of his Major League debut. He’s made 30 starts since and has a 3.44 ERA.

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