Carter Jensen, a 2021 graduate of Park Hill High School, recently received one of 23 non-roster invites to the Kansas City Royals spring training in Surprise, Ariz. This means Jensen has an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team’s 40-man roster.
Jensen, a third-round pick of the Royals in 2021, finished last season as the Royals’ #7 prospect according to mlb.com.
He was a high school standout and was committed to Louisiana State before signing with the Royals. Jensen says it was incredible being drafted by his hometown team, a dream come true. He has spent his last two minor league seasons playing for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies, where he was named team player of the year in 2022, and the High-A Quad City River Bandits. Before that, he played a season in Rookie Ball.
Playing professionally has come with tough times and a lot of adjustments for him. “Biggest adjustment has definitely been handling failure, it’s tough playing against the best players in the world and learning to fail and handling it the right way is the biggest strength you can have in baseball,” said Jensen.
Jensen has been a Royals fan for a long time as a Kansas City native and had looked up to players like Salvador Perez. He is now sharing a locker room and playing with Perez. Jensen said that it’s a surreal feeling to be working with him, as he is such a great baseball mind, and it is hard not to enjoy every moment around him.
Jensen, a catcher, reported to spring training in Surprise on Feb. 13 with the rest of the pitchers and catchers before their first workout on Feb. 14. He hopes to compete well to obtain a 40-man roster spot and climb the ladder to the major leagues.
He made his spring training debut in the Royals first game on Feb. 23 going 0-1 with a walk and a strikeout. Jensen tallied his first start on Feb. 26 alongside many Royals starters such as Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez and went 1-1 with an RBI double and a walk.