Royals star Vinnie Pasquantino has tightness in his lower back: here’s the latest
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Vinnie Pasquantino exited Tuesday’s game with recurring low back tightness.
- Pasquantino grimaced during a sixth-inning swing and was removed from the game.
- He has used a heating back pad and plans more treatment on Wednesday.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino exited Tuesday’s game against the Athletics with low-back tightness.
Pasquantino, 28, has dealt with the injury before. And on Tuesday, his back locked up while he was taking swings throughout the game.
“I was just having a hard time getting it loose today,” Pasquantino said after KC’s 4-1 victory. “My work was real light because of that.
“I just tried to get ready for the game and felt like I had two productive at-bats to start. The last one, I felt like I couldn’t make the moves I wanted to make. I had a hard time getting out of my swing and running to first. Just take it from there and see how I feel tomorrow.”
Pasquantino left the game in the sixth inning. He had consecutive 10-pitch at-bats against A’s starter Aaron Civale where he took a lot of swings. In the sixth, Pasquantino grimaced during the follow-through on his swing.
“It’s just more, anybody that’s had that low-back (problems), sometimes it flares up and you don’t really know why,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
When Pasquantino left the game, Michael Massey came on to play second base. Nick Loftin shifted from second to first.
“Tough day trying to get it loose,” Pasquantino said. “It’s not the most ideal conditions trying to stay loose in the middle of games here — which they do a great job with what they have. And it just got to a point where I didn’t feel like I could be productive.”
Pasquantino has received different means of treatment to manage his stiff back. He also wears a heating-and-massage back pad, as needed, to soothe the pain.
“It goes in and out and there are waves of it,” Pasquantino said of the tightness. “If I feel good enough, I’m going to go.”
Pasquantino said he planned to get more treatment in the morning. He was pushing to play but understands where the Royals are in their season.
“It’s April and (we’ve) got to be smart,” Pasquantino said. “Pushing for the long haul.”
