Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen is preparing for his second year in the big leagues.
Carter Jensen entered the 2026 season as one of the most intriguing young players in the Kansas City Royals organization, and the buzz surrounding him has only grown louder this winter.
After a strong September debut in 2025, Jensen positioned himself as a potential long-term fixture in Kansas City’s lineup. His combination of plate discipline, emerging power and improved athleticism has made him one of the Royals’ most important young pieces as they continue shaping their next competitive core.
Jensen’s rise has been steady rather than sudden. He began 2025 in Double-A, moved to Triple-A by midseason and ultimately reached the majors in September, where he posted a .300 average, .391 on-base percentage, .941 OPS, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 20 games. Even in a small sample, those numbers hinted at a hitter with a mature approach and the potential to impact games immediately.
That momentum carried into the offseason, and it caught the attention of national evaluators. Keith Law of The Athletic offered one of the strongest endorsements Jensen has received to date on his list of MLB’s top 100 prospects.
“Carter Jensen is going to be a legit Rookie of the Year candidate this year as a true catcher who could hit 20 homers with a strong OBP, and with 3-plus WAR potential right away thanks to the defense and positional adjustment,” Law wrote.
Law’s projection goes beyond Rookie of the Year consideration. A 3‑plus WAR season from a young catcher would place Jensen in early All-Star conversations, especially in an American League landscape where few rookie catchers produce at that level.
His belief in Jensen also stands out because Law ranks him more aggressively than MLB Pipeline, which did not include Jensen in its top 10 overall prospects entering 2026. That contrast underscores how evaluators differ on Jensen’s ceiling, with Law clearly seeing a higher‑impact player.
Part of that optimism stems from Jensen’s transformation behind the plate. Once viewed as a bat‑first prospect who might eventually move off catcher, he has reshaped his body, improved his receiving and now profiles as a legitimate defensive asset. When paired with his patience and growing power, the overall package becomes far more valuable.
If Jensen delivers anything close to what Law envisions, the Royals could find themselves with a breakout performer who accelerates their competitive timeline. For a franchise leaning heavily on its young core, Jensen’s emergence could be one of the defining storylines of 2026.