Pasquantino (lower back tightness) back in starting lineup in Seattle

SEATTLE -- After not starting for two games with lower back tightness, Vinnie Pasquantino returned to the Royals’ starting lineup for their Friday series opener against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park in his normal spot in the order, hitting third and playing first base.

“He feels better,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said before the game. “It’s a good thing for him to keep moving.”

Pasquantino exited Kansas City’s game against the A’s on Tuesday after his at-bat in the sixth inning, and was held out of the starting lineup in the Royals’ next two games in West Sacramento. He did come off the bench as a pinch-hitter Thursday in the ninth inning and drilled a 100.2 mph line drive, though it went straight to Zack Gelof for the final out of the game.

The 28-year-old said that the back issue is one he’d been dealing with for “a while” on Tuesday, and that he’s been using a heated massage pad in the dugout to help keep his back loose during games.

“We hope that he’s not going to have to deal with it the whole season,” Quatraro said. “But he’ll probably feel it for a handful of days before it resolves.”

Coming off a 32-homer season in 2025, Pasquantino has gotten off to a slower start, slashing .165/.274/.320 with three home runs, three doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs and 24 strikeouts in 29 games. His barrel rate has fallen from 10.8% last year to 7.2%, and his hard-hit rate has dropped nearly 10 points, from 44.7% to 34.9%.