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Kyle Isbel

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Kyle Isbel
Isbel with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2021
Kansas City Royals – No. 28
Center fielder
Born: (1997-03-03) March 3, 1997 (age 27)
Fontana, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 1, 2021, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.231
Home runs19
Runs batted in111
Stolen bases29
Teams

Kyle Grant Isbel (born March 3, 1997) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career

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Isbel attended Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he played baseball.[1] As a junior, he hit .347.[2] Following his junior year, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV).[3] Undrafted in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at UNLV.

In 2016, Isbel's freshman season at UNLV, he hit .319 with one home run and 28 RBIs over 56 games, earning Mountain West Conference co-Freshman of the Year honors.[4][5] That summer, he played in the California Collegiate League for the Santa Barbara Foresters.[6] As a sophomore at UNLV in 2017, he played in 55 games, batting .290 with six home runs and 26 RBIs.[7][8] Following the season, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, where he was named a league all-star.[9][10] In 2018, his junior year, Isbel slashed .357/.441/.643 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs over 59 games,[11] earning All-MW First-Team honors.[12] After the season, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[13][14][15]

Professional career

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Isbel signed with the Royals and made his professional debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars before being promoted to the Lexington Legends.[16] Over 64 games between the two clubs, Isbel hit .326 with seven home runs, 32 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases.[17] In 2019, he began the year with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. He was placed on the injured list in April,[18] and was activated in July.[19] He appeared in seven rehab games before being reassigned to Wilmington.[20] Over 52 games with the Blue Rocks, Isbel hit .216 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros after the season,[21] earning All-Star honors.[22] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 31, 2021, Royals manager Mike Matheny announced the Isbel had made Kansas City's Opening Day roster and would be starting in right field.[23] On April 1, he was selected to the 40-man roster.[24] Isbel made his MLB debut the same day, collecting his first MLB hit, an RBI single off of Kyle Gibson of the Texas Rangers. He finished the game three for five with two RBIs.[25]

On September 3, 2022, in a 12–2 win over the Detroit Tigers, Isbel hit his first career grand slam off of reliever Jason Foley.[26]

On May 4, 2023, Isbel exited a game against the Baltimore Orioles with a hamstring strain. The following day, he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and ruled out for 6 weeks.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Southern California's prep baseball players to watch in 2015". Los Angeles Times. February 23, 2015.
  2. ^ Inland, The (July 22, 2014). "CHATTER: Etiwanda baseball player Kyle Isbel commits to UNLV – Daily Bulletin". Dailybulletin.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Etiwanda baseball standout Kyle Isbel commits to UNLV | Prep Sports Bulletin". Prep Sports Bulletin. Insidesocal.com. July 21, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "UNLV hoping coach Maddux will elevate pitching staff - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Lasvegassun.com. February 17, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Dewey, Todd (June 21, 2016). "Four drafted UNLV players sign pro baseball contracts | Las Vegas Review-Journal". Reviewjournal.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "Foresters capture sixth NBCWS title - National Baseball Congress". National Baseball Congress. Nbcbaseball.com. August 14, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "UNLV roundup: Two baseball players net preseason honors | Las Vegas Review-Journal". Reviewjournal.com. February 6, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Short, Garrett (February 15, 2018). "Baseball hits Vegas to start season | Sports". isustudentmedia.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Kostinas, George. "Y-D RED SOX: Solid performances bring early season success - Sports - The Register - Yarmouth, MA". Yarmouth.wickedlocal.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "#2 Kyle Isbel". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  11. ^ The Kansas City Star (subscription required)
  12. ^ "MW Announces 2018 All-Conference Baseball Team and Individual Awards - Mountain West Conference". Themw.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Steele, Allan (June 5, 2018). "MLB draft: Three area baseball standouts taken on Day 2 – Press Enterprise". Pe.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Gallanty, Justin (June 5, 2018). "Royals Pick up Four Arms and Four Bats on Day Two | Burlington". Milb.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  15. ^ staff and wire reports (June 5, 2018). "MLB Draft: Royals add UNLV 2B Kyle Isbel, Arkansas OF Eric Cole during earlier rounds on Day 2 - Sports - The Topeka Capit→al-Journal - Topeka, KS". Cjonline.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  16. ^ Lara, Vincent (July 17, 2018). "Kyle Isbel goes one better than cycle for Idaho Falls Chuckars | Pioneer League". Milb.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  17. ^ "Kyle Isbel Intrigues with His Versatility". October 25, 2018.
  18. ^ RotoWire Staff (April 23, 2019). "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Hot start interrupted by face injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  19. ^ RotoWire Staff (July 13, 2019). "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Back in action at High-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  20. ^ RotoWire Staff (July 5, 2019). "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Begins rehab assignment". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Royals Arizona Fall League updates | Kansas City Royals". Mlb.com. October 26, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  22. ^ Janus, Matt (October 9, 2019). "Three Former Rocks to Participate in Arizona Fall League All-Star Game | Blue Rocks". Milb.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  23. ^ "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Set to start in right field". March 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "Royals DFA Meibrys Viloria, Scott Blewett". MLB Trade Rumors. April 1, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  25. ^ "Search results". www.google.com. [better source needed]
  26. ^ "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Hits grand slam in win". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "Royals' Kyle Isbel: Exits with hamstring strain". cbssports.com. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
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