Kyle Isbel

Isbel demonstrated some growth in his age-26 season, though not enough to get fantasy managers particularly excited about his prospects for 2024. In particular Isbel improved his strikeouts, shaving more than eight full percentage points off his strikeout rate from the prior season. That resulted in nearly 30 added points in batting average and 40 added points in slugging. In the end, Isbel still totaled a mere five homers and seven steals in 313 plate appearances around an extended absence due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. On the positive side, his efficiency on the bases was improved, as he was only caught stealing once after six CS in 15 attempts in 2022. His defense is a plus, but it's uncertain whether that will be enough to earn him regular starts in the Kansas City outfield after the team added Hunter Renfroe to the mix.

Entering his age-26 season, Isbel has yet to claim a full-time major-league role. He was mainly a strong-side platoon option in the Royals' outfield in 2022, but a brutal .211/.264/.340 slash line didn't strengthen his case to see more time. The Royals are at the point in their latest round of rebuilding where prospects are given a look in the majors, and that could make for an outfield logjam, though Isbel's speed and solid defense will keep him in the conversation for another year. He had five home runs, nine stolen bases and 28 RBI in 278 plate appearances last year -- that's not huge, but hitting anywhere around .260 would likely make him look like a much more viable player. The biggest concern for Isbel is the likes of Drew Waters, Edward Olivares and MJ Melendez picking up time in the outfield at his expense if he can't get his bat going early in the year.

Isbel has two of the most important things any hitting prospect can have: speed and opportunity. He is a plus runner and a potentially plus defender in any of the three outfield spots, and the depth chart is wide open in right field and slightly open in center. Michael Taylor is an excellent defensive center fielder, but he hits right-handed, has a career 85 wRC+ and is only getting paid $4.5 million per year, so he could sit against some righties as Isbel moves between center and right. His best run of the season came when he got his second cup of coffee with the Royals, hitting .286/.362/.524 with one home run, one steal, a 10.6 BB% and a 17.0 K% in 47 plate appearances to close the year. He hit .269/.357/.444 with 15 home runs and 22 steals in 105 games at Triple-A. Isbel lacks impact power but could be a prime Adam Eaton type of contributor. On this team, that type of player could eventually lead off against righties. Considering he turns 25 in March, this will be an important year for him to prove he is a regular going forward.

The one poor hitting stretch of Isbel's minor-league career was in the second half of 2019 when he was returning from a broken wrist. He was his normal self later that year in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .315/.429/.438 with six steals in 21 games. Isbel spent this past summer at the alternate training site, where he faced arguably the best collection of pitching prospects at any team's alternate site and still did plenty of damage. He will be hit over power, but Isbel has enough left-handed pop to bang out 15-plus home runs while potentially leading off. The big selling point for fantasy, however, is his plus speed. He puts it to use on the bases with high success rates and could be a 20-to-25 steal guy in his prime. Isbel also has a chance to be a plus defensive outfielder, which should help keep his bat in the lineup. If he handles the upper levels, he could debut during his age-24 season.

While Isbel missed almost three months with hamstring and hamate injuries, he still had one of the better 2019 seasons by a Royals position player prospect (Nick Pratto, MJ Melendez and Seuly Matias all flopped). This is important to factor in, as the organizational depth chart looks pretty bleak over the next couple years, so basic competency will give a player a chance to play a lot when they first get to Kansas City. Isbel, who turns 23 in March, hit .348 through his first 13 games before the injuries struck. His performance was poor upon his return, which could be chalked up to the long layoff, but he rebounded by hitting .315/.429/.438 with a 20:14 K:BB and six steals on seven attempts in 91 PA in the Arizona Fall League. Isbel has plus speed and could be a center fielder in the early-career Adam Eaton mold. Given his age, the Royals will keep him on a fast track to the majors.

Isbel, the 94th overall pick in the 2018 draft, put up some of the best statistics of any player in that class after signing for $592,300. Let's throw out what the 21-year-old did in the hitter-friendly Pioneer League. He was old for the level and there is a lot of noise in those numbers. After getting a promotion to the Sally League, his K% jumped from 14.3% to 24.7% and his walk rate dipped from 11.8% to 6.9%. However, he started using the whole field more, dropping his Pull% from 51.1% to 41.0%, which will be important for the left-handed hitter as he moves up the ladder. His plus speed and aggressiveness on the bases were apparent at both stops, and those are the top selling points in dynasty leagues. Isbel has a chance to develop into a center fielder who steals 25-plus bases and hits double-digit home runs. If he can improve his contact rate, or regain the patient approach he showed in rookie ball, he could be the Royals' leadoff hitter in a couple years.