Tolbert taking next-man-up mentality seriously as he steps in for Witt

KANSAS CITY -- When Tyler Tolbert saw Michael Massey dive all-out for a ball up the middle in the eighth inning Friday night, Tolbert yelled, ‘Flip it,’ but didn't think Massey heard him. It was a good thing, then, that the two were on the same page. Massey flipped it to Tolbert from the ground, and Tolbert reached back, grabbed it, spun and fired to first for an electric out that had everyone in the Royals’ dugout on their feet.

It was a play Royals fans have seen their infield duo make before. But usually it’s Massey and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

On Friday in the Royals’ 6-5 win over the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium, it was Tolbert who stepped in and made it look easy, which is definitively not an easy thing to do when you’re replacing an All-Star, Gold Glover and MVP candidate like Witt as he deals with a Grade 1 MCL sprain.

The Royals are bruised, banged up and without several of their everyday players right now. Their entire Opening Day starting infield was sidelined Friday night with Witt and third baseman Maikel Garcia (left hand soreness) both unavailable, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino on the injured list with a right hamate fracture and second baseman Jonathan India out for the year with a torn right labrum.

The Royals haven’t let it stop them against the Cardinals, locking down their first series win since June 4-7 in Minnesota. The teams now head into a rare Saturday off-day, their series interrupted by a World Cup match being held at Kansas City Stadium across the parking lot from The K on Saturday. When they return on Sunday, the Royals will look for a sweep.

“Just next-man-up mentality,” Tolbert said. “We’ve got a lot of guys down and trying to get back. It’s got to be next man up. We’ll hold down the fort until the boys get back.”

Tolbert is on the Royals’ roster for his speed as their main pinch-runner off the bench. He’s appeared in 22 games this season and has 21 at-bats. He’s actually their third-string shortstop because on the rare occasion Witt doesn’t play -- Friday was his first time out of the lineup all season -- Garcia would usually slide over from third base.

Tolbert serves a very niche role, and he embraces it. But when he does get the opportunity to play, he has to be ready.

“For a lot of guys, it would be exceptionally hard,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “But he keeps himself as ready as anybody I’ve seen.”

Tolbert is constantly studying pitchers’ moves to be ready for pinch-running opportunities throughout a game, and he’s often seen with his own stopwatch in the dugout to time the opposing pitcher. He gets work at different defensive positions every day.

And when the starters go out to the field to warm up before the game, Tolbert is right there with them even if he’s not starting.

“It’s a mental thing,” Tolbert said. “A lot of people are like, ‘Save your energy.’ But for me, it’s a mindset thing. My whole life, I’ve been a starter. It just gets my mind and body ready, like, ‘Hey, we’re playing a game. Let’s get in that mode. We’re not sitting around and hanging out. Turn the switch on.’”

There’s no replacing the stars on this Royals team, especially Witt. But injuries happen, and the Royals still have games to play. They need contributors, no matter where it comes from. Tolbert helped the offense with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning Friday after two frustrating at-bats earlier and two missed bunt attempts before he lifted a ball a Statcast-projected 401 feet out to center field.

Even key everyday players shifting into new roles have stepped up, like Jac Caglianone, who not only is taking over the majority of reps at first base with Pasquantino out but is also hitting third in the lineup.

He belted his second opposite-field home run in as many days in the fifth inning, taking Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy deep an inning after the Royals put up a four-run fourth inning against him.

“For these guys to play as hard as they’re playing, put up good at-bats and make plays on defense, I think that just shows the culture we’re trying to create here,” said starter Seth Lugo, who allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings in his first start since he was hit in the head by a line drive on June 10. “For Tolbert to step in and fill Bobby’s shoes, make some excellent plays, that’s really good. It drives the whole team to do our best every pitch, every play.”