The Kansas City Royals placed center fielder Kyle Isbel on the 10-day injured list before Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. In a corresponding move, the team recalled Kameron Misner from Triple-A Omaha to provide immediate depth in the outfield. Manager Matt Quatraro told Anne Rogers of MLB.com the team is awaiting MRI results before establishing a return timeline for Isbel.
Isbel, 29, has been the primary center fielder for the Royals for a fourth consecutive season. He entered Wednesday hitting .244/.298/.354 with three home runs in 183 plate appearances. His injury comes at a time when the Kansas City outfield continues to struggle, ranking 22nd in the majors with a .239/.329/.355 batting line.
Misner, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, will make his 2025 major league debut with the Royals. The 6’3” Missouri native has hit .276/.373/.547 with 13 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 79 games with Triple-A Omaha this season. While his major league track record is limited to a .203/.260/.325 line over 79 games with the Rays between 2024 and 2025, his combination of speed, power, and defensive versatility makes him a valuable option.
Misner could fill a role in center field against left-handed pitching, especially with Lane Thomas in the lineup against Texas starter MacKenzie Gore. The Royals have used a platoon system in the outfield this season, with Thomas, Isaac Collins, and Jac Caglianone sharing time in the corners.
Meanwhile, the Royals have found a spark in the bullpen with Alex Lange. The right-hander has converted four straight save opportunities and is riding a nine-inning scoreless streak. Since the start of May, Lange has allowed just three runs in 16 1/3 innings. His recent success has positioned him as the de facto closer, despite manager Quatraro’s insistence that the ninth inning remains a matchup-based decision.
Lange’s resurgence is impressive considering his recent history. After posting 26 saves for the Tigers in 2023, he struggled early in 2024, suffered a lat injury, and missed 14 months due to surgery. He signed with the Royals for $900,000 in the offseason and has now become a key piece of their late-game strategy.
With Carlos Estévez sidelined and Lucas Erceg struggling (6.00 ERA, 18.8% strikeout rate), the Royals have turned to Lange, a Kansas City native, to stabilize the back end of the bullpen. The team remains 4.5 games back in the Wild Card race but has won three straight games heading into Wednesday’s action.
President of baseball operations J.J. Picollo said Tuesday that the team is not focusing on the trade deadline just yet. “There are so many teams that are still in this,” Picollo said. “Last thing we’re thinking about is the trade deadline right now.” The All-Star Break is still weeks away, and the Royals will continue to evaluate their options as the season unfolds.
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