‘Fiery teddy bear’: In healthiest season yet, Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino proving his worth
Beneath Vinnie Pasquantino’s white polyester jersey, reading “Royals” in script lettering, hangs a gold rope chain ornamented by a golden Sasquatch.
In just three seasons with Kansas City, the first baseman has made a name for himself. More than that, however, he’s earned an honorary sobriquet. “The Pasquatch,” as he’s best known, bats third.
Simply put, he’s “a good hitter.”
“We hit him third every night because he can hit righties, lefties (and) he drives in runs,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s a big part of what we do offensively.”
Pasquantino, 26, certainly earns his keep at the three-hole. This season alone, he’s tied for the Royals lead in RBIs, ranks third on the team in hits and scratches the top four in OPS.
What he’s shown this season in 112 games played isn’t surprising given the potential the Royals saw in him, but after a muddled rookie season and a year stifled by a shoulder injury, it’s the first time he has shown it.
Getting him healthy was atop the priority list over the offseason.
“It’s important for me to show that I can play a full season,” Pasquantino said. “I’m happy to be able to contribute on a daily basis — just to be in the lineup and be available.”
Paired with superstar teammate Bobby Witt Jr., Pasquantino has helped lead the Royals’ charge toward the postseason. Since returning from the midseason break, he ranks second in both RBIs and batting average across MLB, but even then, he won’t take that credit.
When fans at Kauffman Stadium begin chanting “Bobby,” followed by “Vinnie,” Pasquantino will tell you it’s all for the former.
“It gets really loud before I hit,” Pasquantino said. “By the time I’m hitting, it’s died down quite a bit.”
He might be the only one who feels that way.
“It’s awesome just to see the work that he’s put in,” Witt said. “We know that when he’s healthy, he can produce. He’s doing his job, doing his part. He wants to be a winner, and that’s what we all want to be.
“When Vinnie goes, we all leap behind him.”
Such was the case in the Royals’ 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the midweek series after Witt singled in the bottom of the fifth inning to give his team some momentum. Pasquantino came up to bat and doubled, bringing him in.
During Wednesday night’s 8-4 victory, Witt doubled in the bottom of the fourth and, again, Pasquantino followed.
This time, it was a home run.
“We definitely feed off each other,” Witt said. “I try to get on base so I can score for him. … I know that when I’m on, he’s probably going to move me over, get me in or do something.”
The pair’s relationship extends beyond the diamond. The kind of chemistry expected of a team looking to make a postseason push is certainly present. But Witt sees — through a unique lens — the way Pasquantino lifts the clubhouse.
“I’d call him a fiery teddy bear,” Witt said. “He’s a big Vinnie rolling around, but he’s smart with everything he does and how much he knows about the game. He’s fiery, too. When things aren’t going the way he’d like them to, he speaks his mind, and that’s great for all of us just to hear him and what he knows.
“Any time I’ve got questions, I go to him.”
Three years ago, Pasquantino knew the kind of opportunity that was in front of him with the Royals. He was an 11th-round pick with plenty of potential, and now that he’s beginning to realize it, he’s only validated what the team saw in him.
Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt spoke to that.
“I have very high expectations for our players,” Zumwalt said. “Sometimes higher than theirs. And with Vinnie, he’s just continued to validate what I think he can do.”
Perhaps what makes Pasquantino such an asset for the team, however, goes back to Witt’s good-humored description of the rising star.
“Just his personality,” Zumwalt began. “He wants to be in that spot. He wants to be in the middle of the order and do whatever he has to do to help the team win. It’s no surprise to me that he’s had as many sacrifice flys or RBIs. He’s a team-first guy, and guys like that thrive in those positions.”
While the Royals continue their pursuit of a playoff spot, Pasquantino will be along for the ride. He’s played his healthiest season ever and, barring any injuries, will continue to earn cheers from the crowd he claims aren’t for him night-in and night-out.
“You want to be somebody that’s counted on in big moments,” he said. “I feel like I’m a pretty good player. I want to go out and prove every night, to myself, that I can do it at this level. … It’s something I take a lot of pride in.”
Pasquantino’s motivation might come mostly from within, but there’s always the slight satisfaction he gets from watching the suited Sasquatch — matching the icon that dangles from his gold chain — roam around in left field at The K.
Even if just a little bit.
“Every time,” Pasquantino joked, when asked if his at-bat goal is to let the Sasquatch “out of his cage.” “There’s a lot of motivation to keep him moving up there.”
