KYLE ISBEL NEWS

Not in starting nine Isbel will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact Isbel recently missed five games with a tight hamstring but returned to start both Wednesday and Friday, going a combined 1-for-6 with two walks and four strikeouts. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday, with Drew Waters taking over in center field.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Isbel (hamstring) is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the White Sox in his return to the lineup.

Impact Isbel missed the previous five games with a tight hamstring but is feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. He and his teammates will be squaring off against Touki Toussaint.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Held out again Tuesday Isbel (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the White Sox.

Impact Isbel hasn't played since Friday because of a tight hamstring. The Royals consider the injury to be minor and expect Isbel to avoid the injured list, but the longer his absence drags on, the odds of an IL stint certainly increase. Drew Waters is in center field again Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nursing hamstring injury Isbel hasn't played since Friday due to hamstring rightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Isbel is missing a third straight start Monday, but the hamstring issue is considered mild and his pregame workouts haven't been interrupted. It sounds like he has a good shot to avoid the injured list.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Monday's lineup Isbel is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the White Sox.

Impact Isbel didn't start Sunday against a lefty and will begin this one on the bench again even as the White Sox are starting right-hander Jesse Scholtens. Drew Waters is in center field and Nelson Velazquez is in right.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Idle against southpaw Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.

Impact Chris Sale will start Sunday's game for the Red Sox, meaning the left-handed bat of Isbel will retreat to the bench for the start of the game. Dairon Blanco will man center field in Isbel's absence and bat ninth.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against another righty Isbel is not in Saturday's lineup against the Red Sox.

Impact Isbel will head to the bench despite having the platoon advantage (against Tanner Houck) for the second time in the last three games against right-handed pitchers after starting regularly against righties prior to Aug. 29. The righty-hitting Nelson Velazquez has been getting more starts in the outfield recently while the Royals cycle players through the designated hitter slot.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus righty Isbel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact The 26-year-old will usually sit against left-handed pitchers, but he'll take a seat Tuesday despite Pittsburgh's opener (Colin Selby) and expected bulk pitcher (Luis Ortiz) both being right-handed. It is Isbel's second absence in Kansas City's past nine games, and he's gone 5-for-21 with a home run and five RBI during that span. Drew Waters will man center field while Dairon Blanco and Nelson Velazquez start in the corner outfield.

AUGUST 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats homer Friday Isbel went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three total RBI in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Mariners.

Impact Isbel was productive from the bottom of the order with an RBI single in the second inning and a two-run blast in the seventh. This was his fifth multi-hit effort in August, and he's now batting .290 (18-for-62) with 11 RBI over 20 contests this month. The outfielder is at a .246/.277/.394 slash line with five homers, 27 RBI, 32 runs scored and six stolen bases through 71 contests while maintaining a regular role in center field.

AUGUST 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Wednesday Isbel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Isbel will be the odd man out of the Kansas City outfield while MJ Melendez, Drew Waters and Dairon Blanco form the Royals' starting trio from left to right. The move to the bench comes while Isbel has enjoyed a productive run at the dish over the past five games, going 5-for-14 with a double, a walk, four RBI and two runs.

AUGUST 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in starting nine Isbel will be on the bench Saturday against the Cubs.

Impact Isbel sits after starting seven straight games. He's hitting .252/.270/.389 in 40 games since returning from a hamstring injury in late June, which represents only a modest improvement from the .209/.250/.352 line he recorded prior to the injury. Drew Waters starts in center field Saturday.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets aboard three times Isbel went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 12-8 win over the Cardinals.

Impact Isbel was productive out of the No. 9 spot in the order again. He's hit safely in four straight games, going 5-for-14 with two steals, two RBI and four runs scored in that span. Long-term consistency has been a struggle for the outfielder this year -- he has just one other hitting streak of four or more games in 2023. Isbel is slashing .232/.263/.384 with six steals, four home runs, 18 RBI and 27 runs scored over 60 contests.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hit ball gets lodged in red light of Fenway Park's Green Monster

Kyle Isbel hit a liner that crashed through a red light near the base of the Green Monster at Fenway Park and lodged inside the broken light for a ground-rule double on Wednesday n...

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Watch: Royals OF Kyle Isbel smashes light on Fenway Park's Green Monster for bizarre ground-rule double Kyle Isbel had one of the more memorable ground-rule doubles in Fenway Park's 111-year history on Wednesday night against the Red Sox.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • BOSTON.COM

Watch the Royals' Kyle Isbel hit one of the strangest ground-rule doubles you'll ever see at Fenway Park - The Boston Globe “I’ve never seen this,” said a stunned Kevin Youkilis, who was calling the game on NESN.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Royals' Kyle Isbel hit a ball that got stuck in the scoreboard on Boston's Green Monster No one could remember ever seeing this happen before in the history of Fenway Park.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Knocks in two in win Isbel went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The outfielder was productive in a variety of ways Tuesday, which also included a sacrifice fly. He's off to an inauspicious start in August, going 4-for-23 (.174) over seven games this month, though he continues to see regular playing time in center field. Isbel is slashing .223/.252/.376 with five steals, four home runs, 18 RBI and 25 runs scored over 58 contests this season.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Impact Isbel started the past five games and will receive a day off after going 8-for-20 with a double, a home run, stolen bases, three RBI and six runs during that stretch. Drew Waters will shift to center field while Dairon Blanco starts in right.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Royals play the Twins after Isbel's 4-hit game

The Kansas City Royals play the Minnesota Twins after Kyle Isbel's four-hit game on Saturday

JULY 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Homer and steal in win Isbel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Twins.

Impact Isbel opened the scoring with his third-inning solo shot. He also stole third in the 10th inning as the initial runner. The outfielder has had a lackluster July, hitting .246 with a .727 OPS, three home runs and two steals over 21 contests. Despite the middling numbers, he remains a steady presence in the lineup, especially against right-handers. Isbel is slashing .213/.249/.373 with four homers, four steals, 14 RBI and 20 runs scored across 50 games this season.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers off the bench Isbel went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

Impact After pinch-hitting for Dairon Blanco in the seventh inning, Isbel cranked a solo homer off Ron Marinaccio in the ninth. The 26-year-old Isbel has been swinging the bat well of late -- he's gone 5-for-17 (.294) with a .941 OPS over his last five games. After a rough start to the year, Isbel's now slashing .208/.247/.364 with three homers, 16 runs scored, 13 RBI and three steals across 162 plate appearances this season.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Isbel started the past four games and will receive Sunday off after he went 4-for-15 with three doubles, an RBI and five strikeouts. Dairon Blanco will take over in center field for the Royals.

JULY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting versus lefty Isbel isn't in the Royals' lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.

Impact The left-handed bat of Isbel will take a seat Tuesday versus southpaw Tarik Skubal and the Tigers. Drew Waters will slide to center field in Isbel's absence, allowing Dairon Blanco to start in right field and bat ninth.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes bag Sunday Isbel went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Rays.

Impact Isbel notched just his third stolen base of the year and recorded his first base knock since the team returned from the All-Star break. The Royals don't really have anyone challenging Isbel for playing time and he should remain a regular in the lineup against righties despite a dreary .203/.248/.338 slash line over 141 plate appearances this season.

JULY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Isbel will sit for the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays.

Impact Isbel played center field and hit cleanup in the afternoon contest but went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, driving his OPS on the season down to .594. Left fielder MJ Melendez will move up to the cleanup spot, while Drew Waters will slide to center field with Dairon Blanco entering the lineup in right.

JULY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE