KYLE ISBEL NEWS

Royals' Merrifield says he 'poorly articulated' vax remarks

Two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals has apologized for what he called his “poorly articulated” comments about the COVID-19 vaccine after missing the team’s...

JULY 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated from restricted list The Royals reinstated Isbel (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Impact Isbel was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. He closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a .223/.257/.331 slash line to go with two home runs, four stolen bases, 13 RBI and 13 runs across 148 plate appearances. When Kansas City opens its post-All-Star-break schedule Friday, the 25-year-old will likely have to vie for work in right field with Edward Olivares, as Andrew Benintendi and Michael Taylor (shoulder) are the established starters at the other two outfield spots.

JULY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hernández has winning hit, Jays rally in 10th to beat Royals

Teoscar Hernández singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5

JULY 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hernández, Chapman, Manoah lead Toronto past depleted Royals

Teoscar Hernández and Matt Chapman hit three-run home runs, Alek Manoah snapped a three-start winless streak with seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the depleted K...

JULY 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals beat Jays 3-1 with 10 unvaccinated players absent

The Kansas City Royals overcame the absence of 10 unvaccinated players to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1

JULY 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals forced to cobble a patchwork roster after leaving 10 unvaccinated players home for series in Toronto - The Boston Globe Among the 10 players who were left home were All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi, two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield, righthanded starter B...

JULY 14, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Royals patching up roster for Toronto, image among fans

The Kansas City Royals are busy patching up a roster decimated by players barred from traveling to Toronto because of their COVID-19 vaccination status while trying to heal their d...

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes on restricted list The Royals placed Isbel (personal) on the restricted list Thursday.

Impact Isbel is one of 10 Royals on the 26-man active roster who won't be eligible for the four-game series in Toronto due to his vaccination status. He'll be formally reinstated from the restricted list for the Royals' first game coming out of the All-Star break July 22 against Tampa Bay. Infielder Nick Pratto was summoned from Triple-A Omaha to temporarily replace Isbel on the active roster.

JULY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Royals down 10 unvaccinated players in Toronto

The Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against CO...

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

10 unvaccinated Royals players skipping trip to Toronto

The Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinate...

JULY 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heading to restricted list Isbel is unable to enter Canada for the four-game series in Toronto this weekend due to his vaccination status, so he'll be placed on the restricted list Thursday, Anne Rogers of M...

Impact Isbel is one of 10 players who won't be able to play against the Blue Jays due to being unvaccinated. Michael Taylor and Andrew Benintendi are also heading to the restricted list, so the Royals will need to call up some minor-leaguers to make the trip to Toronto.

JULY 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Solid showing in loss Isbel went 3-for-3 with a double, a hit-by-pitch, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Tigers.

Impact Isbel supplied an RBI double and came around to score in the second inning. The outfielder has a pair of multi-hit games in his last four contests, going 5-for-15 (.333) in that span. The 25-year-old is slashing .221/.255/.331 with two home runs, 13 RBI, 13 runs scored, four stolen bases, five doubles and two triples through 145 plate appearances. He should see steady playing time in center field while Michael Taylor (shoulder) is day-to-day.

JULY 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cabrera drives in 2 to tie Williams, Tigers beat Royals 7-5

Miguel Cabrera drove in the tying and go-ahead runs, matching Ted Williams for 14th place on the career RBI list, and the Detroit Tigers rallied past the Kansas City Royals 7-5 to...

JULY 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steals base in win Isbel went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in a 5-1 win Sunday over Cleveland.

Impact Isbel had a run-scoring single in the second and singled, stole second and scored in the sixth. It was the first multi-hit game for the 25-year-old since June 7 and it ended a 6-for-47 slump. While he's appeared in each of the last 15 games for Kansas City, Sunday was his seventh start during that span.

JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Greinke pitches 5 scoreless innings, Royals beat Guardians

Zack Greinke pitched five scoreless innings of three-hit ball and the Kansas City Royals slowed the Cleveland Guardians 5-1

JULY 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor gets winning hit as Royals beat slumping Guardians

Michael A

JULY 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Verlander earns 11th win, leading Astros past Royals 5-2

Justin Verlander got his 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 to take the series 3-1

JULY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Losing work to Olivares Isbel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Impact As recently as last week, the lefty-hitting Isbel looked as though he might hold down the strong side of a platoon right field, but the righty-hitting Edward Olivares appears to have made a case for a regular role against both left- and right-handed pitching. Isbel finds himself on the bench Wednesday for the fourth time in five games Wednesday, with three of his absences coming when the Royals have opposed right-handers.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Adds steal as pinch runner Isbel recorded a stolen base in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Tigers.

Impact Isbel didn't make a plate appearance, but he ran for Ryan O'Hearn in the ninth inning. Isbel notched a steal with two outs but was thrown out at the plate on a Nicky Lopez single to end the inning. This was Isbel's third steal in four attempts this season. The 25-year-old outfielder has appeared to take on the strong side of a platoon in right field with Edward Olivares, though Whit Merrifield could poach starts from both outfielders at times. Isbel is slashing .222/.248/.333 this year, but he's shown a little improvement by going 3-for-10 with a pair of home runs in his last five contests.

JULY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Bows out of lineup vs. lefty Isbel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Impact The lefty-hitting Isbel will retreat to the bench with southpaw Tarik Skubal on the bump for Detroit, but the 25-year-old still looks as though he'll see the majority of the starts in right field for the time being. Isbel was included in the lineup in four of the past six contests, while Edward Olivares started in three of those contests. The righty-hitting Olivares -- who is serving as Kansas City's designated hitter Sunday -- may end up settling into the short side of a platoon with Isbel.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Starting again Friday Isbel will start in right field and bat eighth Friday against the Tigers, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact Isbel has homered in back-to-back games -- his first two home runs of the season -- and will be rewarded with another start in the series opener in Detroit. He's still batting just .223/.250/.340 for the season, however. Isbel will need to keep it up to fend off Edward Olivares for playing time in the outfield.

JULY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers host the Royals to start 3-game series

The Detroit Tigers host the Kansas City Royals to start a three-game series

JULY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugs second homer Isbel went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Rangers.

Impact Isbel delivered a home run to lead off the fifth frame, his second long ball of the season. However, he struggled significantly entering Wednesday's start, collecting only two hits across 23 at-bats in his previous 10 games. Isbel is in a fight for playing time since Edward Olivares was activated from the injured list Friday, so he'll need to pick up his performance to maintain consistent plate appearances.

JUNE 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Greinke sharp in 500th career start, Royals beat Rangers 2-1

Zach Greinke allowed just one run on four hits, helping the Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 2-1

JUNE 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting against righty again Isbel will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Impact Isbel will stick in the lineup for the third straight time the Royals have faced a right-handed pitcher, this time filling in for a resting Michael Taylor in center field. In Tuesday's 8-3 loss, Isbel drew the start in right field over Edward Olivares and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. Right field looks like Isbel's most realistic path to steady playing time, and he could end up handling the large side of a platoon with the the righty-hitting Olivares. Manager Mike Matheny has yet to reveal his plans for the two outfielders since Olivares returned from the injured list last week.

JUNE 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE