Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Tue 4/13/21 3:41 PM

Isbel is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Angels, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
The promising rookie had five hits in his first two games but is hitting .105 with 12 strikeouts and one walk over his last six games. He has at least managed to chip in a steal over that cold stretch. Jarrod Dyson will start in right field and bat eighth.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Mon 4/5/21 12:18 PM

Isbel will sit for the first time this season Monday against Cleveland.
EDGE Analysis
Isbel started each of the Royals' first three games in right field, grabbing five hits in 13 at-bats while striking out five times. Jorge Soler will move from the designated hitter spot to man the position in his absence, with Ryan McBroom making his first start of the season as the designated hitter.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Sun 4/4/21 6:29 PM

Isbel went 0-for-4 with a stolen base and three strikeouts in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
Isbel got on base due to Rangers catcher Jonah Heim's second-inning error. Isbel was able to steal second base, but couldn't come around to score. The 24-year-old outfielder went 5-for-13 (.385) with three RBI, three runs scored, a triple and five strikeouts in his first three major-league games. As long as he keeps hitting reasonably well, he should maintain a starting role in right field.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Thu 4/1/21 10:56 PM

Isbel went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Thursday's 14-10 win over the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
The 24-year-old singled to score Carlos Santana in the middle of a five-run first inning. Isbel added an infield single to plate Salvador Perez for an insurance run in the seventh. Thursday was Isbel's major-league debut. The third-round pick from 2018 posted a .216/.282/.361 slash line with five homers and 23 RBI in 52 games for Single-A Wilmington in 2019 before spending all of last year at the Royals' alternate training site. Isbel opens 2021 as the primary right fielder. He hit seventh on Opening Day, but more strong performances could move him up the lineup eventually.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Wed 3/31/21 5:18 PM

Manager Mike Matheny said Isbel will start in right field Opening Day against the Rangers on Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The 24-year-old was reassigned to minor-league camp last week, but he he apparently showed enough during spring training to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Isbel spent 2020 at the alternate training site and will make his major-league debut Thursday versus Texas.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Thu 3/25/21 2:38 PM

Isbel remains in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Isbel was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday but continues to get opportunities in Cactus League games. He's yet to advance beyond High-A, where he struggled to a .262/.282/.361 line in 52 games in 2019, but he's making a strong case for himself this spring, hitting .313/.395/.563 through 19 contests.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Mon 3/22/21 11:46 AM

The Royals reassigned Isbel to their minor-league camp Monday.
EDGE Analysis
Kansas City sent several of its top prospects back to minor-league camp Monday, as Isbel was reassigned along with infielder Bobby Witt and pitchers Jackson Kowar and Daniel Lynch. Isbel is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Omaha or Double-A Northwest Arkansas after slashing .216/.282/.361 over 214 plate appearances at his last minor-league stop in High-A Wilmington back in 2019.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Fri 2/5/21 11:19 AM

Isbel received an invitation Friday to Kansas City's major-league spring training.
EDGE Analysis
The 23-year-old spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate training site and will be at big-league camp for the second straight season. Isbel had an impressive spring training before things were shut down last year, and he could make his major-league debut in 2021 if he puts together another strong spring performance.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Sun 6/28/20 9:43 PM

Isbel will be a part of the Royals' 60-man player pool this season, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.
EDGE Analysis
Isbel is one of the Royals' top position player prospects and turned heads in the Arizona Fall League in 2019 and in spring training this year. However, he has never played at Double-A or Triple-A, so he is unlikely to fill a major role with the big club in 2020.

Kyle Isbel
CF KC
Wed 3/25/20 1:58 PM

Isbel was one of the most impressive Royals players during spring training, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Lewis notes that Isbel wasn't just impressive by prospect standards, but that he was simply one of the best overall players in camp. He made a couple highlight reel catches and hit .241 with two home runs, a triple, two doubles and a 6:1 K:BB in 30 plate appearances. Hamstring troubles and a fractured hamate bone cut his 2019 season short, but he hit .315/.429/.438 in 21 games in the Arizona Fall League. One big-league coach said Isbel looked like a big leaguer already, despite the fact that he has never played at Double-A or Triple-A. He may open the year at Double-A, but it seems like he is firmly on the fast track to the big leagues.