KC Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino exits Saturday’s game with heat-related illness
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino exited Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox with a heat-related illness.
In the first inning, Pasquantino was checked out by Royals manager Matt Quatraro and the training staff during his first at-bat. He appeared to feel discomfort while at the plate against White Sox starter Sean Burke.
Pasquantino initially stayed in the game. He finished the nine-pitch plate appearance by striking out on an 81-mph curveball. However, Pasquantino didn’t come out to play defense in the second inning.
“I kind of blacked out in my first at-bat,” Pasquantino said. “I was kind of moving around weird because I was trying to figure out what was going on. I wasn’t very comfortable and some things were happening. And basically, couldn’t slow my heart rate down.”
Temperatures in Kansas City were well above 90 degrees for much of the day, also causing a three-hour delay in the Kansas City Current’s soccer match at CPKC Stadium.
“They kept saying on the broadcast, they thought it was my oblique or back or something,” Pasquantino said. “It was not.”
The Royals moved Nick Loftin to first base and inserted John Rave in the outfield. This season, Pasquantino leads the Royals with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs.
He has recorded 23 RBIs in 20 games since July 23.
“I’m fine now,” Pasquantino said. “Just it’s a tough one. I prepared myself well for the game today, and when it hit me, it hit me. I don’t know how to explain it. This (had) never happened to me before, but I was having a tough time seeing. It was just a weird situation.”
Pasquantino got an IV during the game. He is hopeful to play in Sunday’s finale, but the Royals will evaluate him in the morning before making a determination.
“We’ve got to see how he feels,” Quatraro said postgame. “Generally, when you get that dehydrated, your body’s gonna have some sort of reaction to it. So we’ll have to see how he feels.”
This story was originally published August 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM.
