Royals manager Matt Quatraro explained the reasoning behind a decision involving Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen.
The Kansas City Royals made a lineup decision this week involving Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. For the final two games of the Royals series against the Cleveland Guardians, top prospect Carter Jensen started behind the plate while longtime captain Salvador Perez served as the designated hitter.
With Perez rarely DH-ing on back-to-back days, questions surfaced about whether the 35-year-old was dealing with an undisclosed injury or if the Royals were shifting responsibilities behind the plate.
Manager Matt Quatraro addressed the situation and clarified the reasoning behind the move. “Nothing to read into with Salvador Perez DH-ing two days in a row, manager Matt Quatraro said today. Salvy and Carter Jensen were both going to be in the lineup anyway, so just another day to get Salvy off his feet. Plus, Jensen has performed well behind the plate,” reported Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
Quatraro’s explanation eased concerns and also hinted at what could become a more regular arrangement. With Perez in his 15th MLB season and Jensen emerging as the catcher of the future, the Royals may lean more heavily on Jensen defensively while keeping Perez’s bat in the lineup through DH opportunities. It is a balance that protects Perez’s workload while accelerating Jensen’s development. Also, Jensen remains an effective catcher and has received praise from the team's pitching staff for how he calls games.
Jensen has earned the opportunity. The 22-year-old remains Kansas City’s top prospect and is off to a strong start in 2026, posting a .226 batting average, .286 on-base percentage, .834 OPS, three home runs and six RBIs across his first 11 games. His bat has been one of the few consistent sources of power in a Royals lineup that has struggled early.
Perez, meanwhile, has opened the season slowly with just seven hits in 45 at-bats. Still, his track record speaks for itself. The nine-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner and five-time Silver Slugger remains one of the most accomplished catchers of his generation. Even if his offensive numbers take time to stabilize, his leadership and presence remain important in a young clubhouse.
Both players will need to contribute if the Royals hope to rebound from their 5-8 start and push toward playoff contention. And if Jensen continues to perform while Perez benefits from reduced wear behind the plate, Kansas City may have found a lineup structure that strengthens them in both the short and long-term.