The Royals' rookie catcher is surging at the plate after a slow start to 2026.
Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen did not have the smoothest start to his first full big-league season.
The 22-year-old was scratched from the lineup early in April after oversleeping, and his bat took some time to get going as he adjusted to seeing major-league pitching every day.
Through late May, Jensen's numbers were weighed down by a high strikeout rate and some rough stretches at the dish.
That is no longer the case.
Jensen has ripped off a 13-game hitting streak that has completely flipped the conversation around his rookie year, and the former third-round pick recently broke down exactly what changed.
Jensen Knows What Went Wrong
"I think it all starts with just swinging at my pitches," Jensen said of his recent success. "Not getting antsy at the plate to swing at everything or try to get the hit in the first two pitches of the at-bat. I think the strong thing that I do pretty well is take good at-bats. I think earlier in the season I was just trying to do too much with pitches that I couldn't handle, such as pitches out of the zone."
The numbers during the streak back up everything Jensen is saying.
Since June 6, his strikeout rate has dropped from 30.2 percent to 15.5 percent, his whiff rate has fallen from 32.6 percent to 18.4 percent, and his hard-hit rate has jumped from 40.2 percent to 53.3 percent.
Jensen is slashing .365 with a 1.070 OPS over this stretch, and he even threw out a runner trying to steal second against Tampa Bay on Sunday to help preserve a one-run lead.
The adjustments have shown up in every part of his game.
The Star the Royals Expected
Jensen was Kansas City's No. 1 prospect heading into the year and entered 2026 as a legitimate American League Rookie of the Year candidate.
The Kansas City native grew up a Royals fan and attended the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium, so playing for his hometown team is something he does not take for granted.
His overall line sits at .244 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI across 72 games.
While the average is still climbing, the power and run production are right where you would want them for a catcher in his first full season.
Manager Matt Quatraro has praised the work Jensen has put in behind the scenes. "He's done a lot throughout the year to fine-tune his day, his preparation, all those kinds of things," Quatraro said. "He should be credited for the work he's put in."
The Royals sit at 33-46 and are fifth in the AL Central, so there is no sugarcoating the team's struggles this season.
But Jensen's recent surge is one of the brightest spots on the roster, and it is a sign that Kansas City has a potential cornerstone behind the plate for years to come.
If the 22-year-old keeps swinging at his pitches and trusting his approach, the Royals could have something special building in Kansas City.
