Jensen drove in five runs against Cleveland on Friday, and his manager shared what keeps the rookie catcher pushing.
The Kansas City Royals lost 12-9 to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, but catcher Carter Jensen gave the crowd plenty to cheer.
Jensen went 2-for-4 with two home runs and a career-high five RBI, and manager Matt Quatraro talked about the player behind those numbers.
Jensen Kept Pulling the Royals Even
All five of Jensen's RBI came in appearances that tied the game.
His two-run homer off starter Gavin Williams in the second inning tied the game 3-3, and his sacrifice fly in the fourth tied it again at 4-4.
The Guardians went back in front, and it stayed 7-5 until the eighth, when Jensen hit a two-run shot off reliever Hunter Gaddis to tie it 7-7.
That lift did not last, as Royals pitchers Nate Pearson and Nolan Hoffman combined for six walks in the ninth and Cleveland scored five runs.
Jensen's big night ended in a loss, which has been the story of a 68-92 season.
Quatraro Sees a Player Who Wants More
The homers were Jensen's 26th and 27th of the year.
He already owned the Royals' single-season rookie record, and MLB.com reported that his 62 extra-base hits moved him past Mike Piazza for the most by a rookie catcher since at least 1947.
Quatraro's answer about Jensen had nothing to do with records.
"He's driven. We talk about it all the time. He works, he's committed, he wants to be better," Quatraro said.
The manager added that passing Piazza in anything is pretty impressive, and he pointed to Jensen's growth on defense as well.
He also said Jensen is not satisfied, and it shows.
Jensen earned an award from MLB earlier this month, and he still talks about his work more than his numbers.
The rookie is hitting .237 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI, and those 81 RBI lead the team.
He has done it while catching most days, which is the hardest job on the field.
What Comes Next for Jensen and the Royals
Kansas City has two games left, and both come against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium.
Starter Michael Wacha takes the mound on Saturday night against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee, and the season ends with Sunday's finale.
The Guardians are 84-76 and lead the Chicago White Sox by one game in the American League Central, and Chicago holds the tiebreaker, so the Royals can still have a say in who wins the division.
These last two games are a chance to add to a season that already has Jensen in the American League Rookie of the Year talk, and there is a strong case for keeping him in Kansas City for the long haul.
He grew up a Royals fan, and he now plays like a cornerstone for them.
The Royals also have catcher Salvador Perez, who hit his 21st homer on Friday and is still building his Hall of Fame case.
Jensen has said he would not be where he is without Perez, and he has now taken over the everyday catching job from him.
Talent got Jensen to the majors, but his drive has turned a rookie into one of the most important players on the roster, and the Royals can start building their 2027 lineup around him.
