It's time for the KC Royals to address the Vinnie Pasquantino question

Does Vinnie Pasquantino's potential justify an early extension?

Talent-wise, Pasquantino has the potential to be good for several more seasons. He's only 27 and will unquestionably improve as he refines his already adequate skills at the major-league level.

However, his health — the reason he's missed so much playing time during his short big league career — isn't free from concern.

First came the right shoulder injury he suffered during his rookie season. It surfaced just a few days short of the two-month anniversary of his major league debut and kept him out of the lineup for almost three weeks.

Last year was worse. Pasquantino's shoulder flared up again in June, he wisely underwent surgical repair, and the slugger didn't see game action again until this year's spring training.

But freeing himself from shoulder problems didn't kill Pasquantino's injury bug — the fractured thumb he suffered in late August wrecked the rest of his 2024 regular season. He returned for the playoffs but went only 3-for-23.

Should his injury history squelch any extension discussions, at least for now? Probably not. It appears surgery may have solved Pasquantino's shoulder woes, and his broken thumb arose from a freakish play at first base that seems unlikely to reoccur.

So, Picollo and Sherman should seriously consider sitting down with with Pasquantino this winter. Maybe they can work something out; maybe they can't. But it's worth a try.

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