Seeing double? KC Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino slams second homer in similar fashion

If you had a familiar feeling during Monday’s Royals doubleheader against the Tigers, you weren’t the only one.

Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino hit his second home run in the majors during the afternoon opener in an eerily similar way to his first home run on July 1.

Off the same pitcher, Michael Pineda, the same pitch, a four-seam fastball, and in the same location: in the middle right part of the strike zone.

Don’t forget the same inning and count too: first pitch in a fourth-inning at-bat.

One of the few differences? Pasquantino didn’t have to hustle as hard as he did during his first home run, where he was initially tagged out at second after the ball bounced off the railing and back into the field before being ruled a homer.

“I was just happy this one went over the fence and stayed over the fence,” Pasquantino said. “For a second there, I thought the ball might go off the wall … so I kind of sprint for about half a second, and then I realized it’s going to go.”

The Royals won 3-1 over the Tigers in the first game in large part due to Pasquantino’s performance at the plate.

He became the second player this season to hit their first two home runs off the same pitcher. The first, PJ Higgins, also played college baseball at Old Dominion.

Pasquantino might not have slammed his second home run as hard as he did for his first dinger, which was the hardest-hit home run by a Royal at 112.7 mph.

But in the second go-around against Pineda, the lefty followed up his homer with an opposite field single to drive in another run and collect his first multi-hit game in the majors.

“We celebrated (Royals left fielder) Andrew Benintendi yesterday about being able to use the whole field,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “And that’s really what (Pasquantino) did when he used the middle.

“That’s how you come through in those big situations: not trying to do too much. Especially after you already jumped one over the fence, I imagine it’d be fun to try and do it again. But Vinnie was smart. He’s got a very mature approach at the plate.”

Matheny said he thought Pasquantino started getting a little over-aggressive after his results didn’t necessarily mirror his hitting process. Since the 6-foot-4 slugger has been called up, his expected batting average (.273, calculated by how often a ball hit with the same launch angle and exit velocity would be a hit) is nearly 100 points higher than his actual batting average (.182).

“That felt pretty good to see a few balls drop,” Pasquantino said. “More importantly, it’s nice to do something to help the team win a game. And today I was able to do that … that’s what helps me sleep at night, knowing that I’m having professional at-bats when I walk up there.”

This story was originally published July 11, 2022 at 6:13 PM.