Royals fans may gripe about Raul Mondesi batting in two key situations Tuesday night, but manager Ned Yost has long remained consistent in his handling of young players.
Yost rarely pinch hits, because he likes to give players the chance to prove themselves. Think back to the second game of the 2014 season when Yost declined to pinch hit for Alcides Escobar late in a game in Detroit.
“Pinch hitting for guys gets in their dome,” Yost said at the time. “And you don’t want to get in their dome in the second game when nobody is really swinging the bat good.