The Royals put a center fielder Kyle Isbell on the 10-day injured list last night due to plantar fasciitis. Manager Matt Quatraro announced at the time that Isbel was undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. That image backfired, it seems. The Royals announced this morning that Isbel has a Grade 3 tear of part of the plantar fascia in his left foot. MLB.com’s Anne Rogers reports that the team is not putting an official timetable on his return but it will be some time before he is able to resume baseball activity – let alone start a rehab or return to the big league roster.
There is better news righty Seth Lugowho exited last night’s game after hitting 106 mph in the head. Lugo instead quickly got back to his feet, reassuring his distraught former Mets teammate Brandon Nimmo (who hit the ball in question) that he thought he was right. According to the Royals, the CT scan was clean. Lugo will continue to be monitored, but for now, he seems to have avoided any major injuries.
Isbel, 29, has handled most of the Royals’ center field duties this season. He has long been ranked as a grass fielder, although his grades in 2026 have dropped slightly. That’s not entirely surprising, given the full context of his season; Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star writes that Isbel has been playing with severe pain in his left foot for a long time. He finally reached a point where he could no longer go on. Even with that ailing foot, Isbel posted a good grade in Statcast’s Outs Above Average (4) and was slightly below average in Defensive Runs Saved (-2).
At the plate, Isbel has reached his usual levels. He entered the season with a career-low .235/.288/365 batting line (78 wRC+) and has converted to a career-best .244/.298/.354 slash (80 wRC+).
With Isbel sidelined permanently, the Royals will patch up the middle infield mix with infield options for now. Missouri product and Mizzou product Cameron Misner he was sent back to Triple-A and starts today. Lane Thomas He came in again this season and started in place of Isbel last night. Utilityman Tyler Tolbert has four innings this season but pitched 100 frames there last year. He probably won’t draw many starts in center but could come in if he’s used as a pinch runner (like last night) or if the Royals do some other defense/game planning in the middle of the game in Isbel’s absence.
The veteran Thomas signed a one-year deal with Kansas City over the winter. He’s not hitting for any power in 2026 but is sporting a league-leading 15.8% walk rate in 152 plate appearances. He’s slashing .234/.362/.315 overall and, as is often the case, he’s been a threat to opposing lefties (.262/.395/.361). There is a natural team to be formed between the righty-swinging Thomas and the lefty-swinging Misner. While Misner hit just .203/.260/.325 in 231 MLB plate appearances with the Rays (and one with Kansas City last night), the former first baseman is hitting at Triple-A at a .276/.373/.547 pace in 252 plate appearances this year. He hit 13 homers and swiped 11 bags with the Storm Chasers before returning yesterday to the majors.
