Vinnie Pasquantino Earns Praise After Career First Against White Sox

The Kansas City Royals dug themselves a 14-4 hole against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino led the push to climb out of it over the last two innings.

The Royals scored seven runs in the eighth and ninth before falling 14-11 at Kauffman Stadium, and Pasquantino finished 3-for-5 with five RBI in their fifth straight loss.

The result did not change much for a team that is already out of the race, but it said plenty about where Pasquantino's bat is right now.

Pasquantino singled and scored in the fourth, then drove in outfielder Jac Caglianone with a double in the eighth and scored again on a ground-rule double by second baseman Michael Massey.

In the ninth, with shortstop Tyler Tolbert, Caglianone and third baseman Maikel Garcia on base, Pasquantino hit a grand slam to right center to cut the deficit to three.

It was his first career grand slam, according to MLB.com, and it left him a triple shy of the cycle.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro pointed to how well Pasquantino has hit since returning to the lineup.

"Vinnie has been on a good run since he came back [from the injured list Aug. 17]," Quatraro said.

"There's a lot to like about what he has done since he came back."

The numbers back that up.

Pasquantino has hit .294 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 30 games since coming off the injured list on Aug. 17, after hitting .232 with six home runs in 79 games before that.

He landed on the injured list with a right hamate fracture in June, came back in July, and then went back on the list with right wrist soreness before returning in August.

After two hand and wrist injuries, seeing him drive the ball like this is the best sign the Royals could ask for heading into the winter.

He is now hitting .249 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI in 109 games.

For a team that has not won since a 5-2 victory in Houston on Sept. 16, a healthy Pasquantino in the middle of the order is one of the few things to feel good about.

Caglianone, who missed a game for disciplinary reasons and a hand injury in Pittsburgh last week, also had two hits and scored twice, which is another good sign for next season.

The Royals are 67-90 and out of the playoff picture, but the last five games still carry real stakes for the teams they face.

The White Sox moved to 81-76 with the win, one game behind first-place Cleveland in the American League Central, and they hold the third and final wild card spot.

Kansas City has a chance to play spoiler all week, with starter Seth Lugo facing the White Sox on Wednesday night before the series ends Thursday afternoon.

The Guardians then come to Kauffman Stadium for the final three games of the season starting Friday.

Pasquantino has a chance to finish strong, and a few more nights like this would give the Royals real confidence in their first baseman for 2027.