Royals plan a dynamic catching tandem for 2026.
The Kansas City Royals have one of the most intriguing catching situations in baseball heading into 2026, and manager Matt Quatraro recently shared how the team plans to handle it.
"They'll compliment each other. Carter will definitely catch, but we have a Hall of Famer we're gonna run out there quite a bit," Quatraro said.
A Hall of Fame Mentor
The comments provide a glimpse into how Kansas City will manage the workload between 35-year-old Salvador Perez and 22-year-old Carter Jensen this season.
Perez remains one of the most productive catchers in baseball and is coming off another strong campaign in 2025, when the Royals finished with an 82-80 record and landed third in the American League Central.
According to Baseball Reference, the nine-time All-Star hit 30 home runs with 100 RBI last season while reaching the 300-homer and 1,000-RBI milestones for his career.
Perez is now just 14 home runs shy of passing Hall of Famer George Brett for the most in franchise history, and he ranks among the all-time leaders at the catcher position with 303 career long balls.
His two-year extension through 2027 ensures the Royals will keep their captain in Kansas City as they try to return to the postseason after missing out last year despite a winning record.
Jensen's Impressive Debut
What makes this situation so exciting is the emergence of Jensen, who burst onto the scene during his September call-up and immediately made an impact.
The Kansas City native slashed .300/.391/.550 with three home runs and 13 RBI across 20 games after getting promoted on September 2nd, and he posted a 159 wRC+ while showing excellent plate discipline with a 13 percent walk rate against a 17.4 percent strikeout rate.
Jensen grew up just 20 miles from Kauffman Stadium and attended Park Hill High School before the Royals drafted him in the third round of the 2021 draft.
Now he gets to learn from one of the best catchers of his generation while carving out his own role on the roster.
Quatraro has praised Jensen's ability to absorb information and handle the pitching staff, noting that Perez's veteran presence will be invaluable for the young backstop's development.
The Future Behind the Plate
The Royals clearly see Jensen as a big part of their future, and the plan is to ease him into a larger role without rushing his development.
Perez has spent more time at first base and designated hitter in recent years to manage his workload at 35 years old, which creates natural opportunities for Jensen to catch while keeping both bats in the lineup.
Kansas City's catching depth extends beyond just these two as well, with highly-touted prospect Blake Mitchell ranked No. 75 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list and expected to reach the majors around 2027.
But for now, the focus is on getting the most out of the Perez-Jensen combination as the Royals look to bounce back and contend in a competitive American League Central.
The setup is pretty much ideal for everyone involved.
Perez gets to mentor the next franchise catcher while staying fresh for a playoff push, and Jensen gets to learn from a player he grew up idolizing while gradually taking on more responsibility.
If both catchers perform like they're capable of in 2026, the Royals could have one of the most productive catching tandems in all of baseball.