The Kansas City Royals have had a disappointing 2026 campaign through 85 games, sitting at an AL-worst 35-50.
Despite all that has gone wrong, catcher Carter Jensen has emerged as one of the brightest spots in Kansas City's season.
Jensen, 22, made his MLB debut last September with a stellar first impression, slashing .300/.391/.550 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 20 games. He also showed excellent plate discipline during his brief stint, drawing nine walks while striking out just 12 times across 60 at-bats.
Kansas City's young backstop cracked the Opening Day roster and has alternated between catcher and designated hitter alongside Salvador Perez.
However, Jensen struggled to build off the momentum he established last season. Through June 5, he was slashing just .211/.288/.368 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs. Since then, the Royals catcher has rediscovered the form he showed in 2025, currently riding a 19-game hitting streak.
Over that stretch, Jensen is slashing .351/.388/.610 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. His streak is the longest active run in the majors and set a new franchise record for a Royals rookie, surpassing Maikel Garcia's 18-game hitting streak in 2023.
Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox was one of Jensen's best performances during his hot stretch. He went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, including two singles and the go-ahead double in the fourth inning, helping Kansas City avoid the sweep with a 5-4 victory.
Jensen's batting average has climbed from .211 to .251 since June 6. While his offensive production has returned to form, Jensen's defense has also taken a significant step forward.
This season, Jensen owns a 3 Caught Stealing Above Average. That mark ranks among the top 10 catchers in baseball and is an improvement from his mark of 0 last season. His defensive development has also earned him more opportunities behind the plate. Jensen has 45 games at catcher compared to 33 at designated hitter this season.
Meanwhile, Perez has started 38 games at catcher and 34 at designated hitter. He has also seen increased time at first base since Vinnie Pasquantino suffered a right hamate fracture. The 28-year-old first baseman has not played since June 13.
Nonetheless, Jensen is proving himself to be a foundational piece of the Royals' future alongside superstar shortstopBobby Witt Jr.
Perez is regressing at age 36, slashing .203/.244/.332 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs. As he nears the end of his career, the Royals hope Jensen can become his long-term successor behind the plate.
Jensen will look to extend his hitting streak to 20 games on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:40 ET.
