Major leagues
2023
Pasquantino made the Opening Day roster for Kansas City in 2023. Playing in 61 games,he hit .247/.324/.437 with 9 home runs and 26 RBI. [11] [12] The Royals organization started a continuing tradition of having a team employee dressed in a bigfoot or sasquatch costume walk across the roof of the team hall of fame in left field each time Pasquantino reaches base;Pasquantino was not told by the team of the stunt beforehand,only learning of it when a friend sent him a link to a tweet containing a clip of the event. Pasquantino has embraced it,along with his nickname of "Pasquatch," wearing a gold sasquatch necklace. The Royals have also arranged promotional Pasquatch-themed giveaways such as necklaces and small figurines. [13] On June 14,2023,it was announced that Pasquantino would undergo season–ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. [14] [15]
2024
Pasquantino began the 2024 season as the Royals' starting first baseman. During a game versus the Houston Astros on August 29,Pasquantino suffered a broken right thumb when Astros catcher Yainer Diaz ran into his outstretched hand as he attempted to field a throw from pitcher Lucas Erceg. He underwent surgery which ended his regular season. [16] He played in 131 regular season games in 2024,slashing a combined .262/.315/.446 with 19 home runs,and 97 RBIs. [17] By the fall,Pasquantino's injury had healed to the point where the Royals added him to their postseason roster on October 1,for their Wild Card round matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. [18] Playing in two games,he batted .286 with two hits and one RBI,also drawing two walks. With Pasquantino's input,the team introduced the "Pasqwich," an Italian beef sandwich with bacon,hash brown patties,and provolone cheese on a brioche bun with a giardiniera aioli,sold at "Pasquantino's," a themed food cart inside the stadium. The cart continued for the 2025 season. [19]
2025
Pasquantino began the 2025 season as the Royals' starting first baseman. On June 5,2025,Pasquantino matched a career high with four hits in the first game of a doubleheader at the St. Louis Cardinals. [20] Between June 2–8,he went 13-for-26 with a double,two home runs,and 7 RBI in seven games,being named the American League Player of the Week for that span. [21] Between August 18 and August 22,Pasquantino homered in 5 straight games to match a franchise record,previously done by Mike Sweeney from June 25–29,2002 and Salvador Perez from August 25–29,2021. It was the second 5-game HR streak in the Majors this season,following Shohei Ohtani,who did it from July 19-23. [22] Between August 18–24,he went 11-for-29 with two doubles,six home runs,and 12 RBI in seven games,being named the American League Player of the Week for that span. It is his third career American League Player of the Week honor,following June 2–8 this season and August 8–14,2022. His three such awards are tied with Carlos Beltrán for the 6th most in Royals history,trailing only George Brett (12),Hal McRae (5),Billy Butler (5),Mike Sweeney (4),and Bret Saberhagen (4). [23]
Pasquantino finished the 2025 season batting .264/.323/.475 in 160 games. He recorded 32 home runs and 113 RBI,the latter of which ranked third in the American League. [24] [25]
2026
Prior to the 2026 season,Pasquantino and the Royals front office were unable to come to an agreement on contract terms prior to the January 8,2026,arbitration deadline. [26] Pasquantino filed for a salary of $4.5 million,while the Royals filed for a salary of $4 million. [26] On January 30th,2026,the Royals announced that they signed Pasquantino to a 2-year contract worth up to $15.7 million. [27]
