Royals Reveal Crushing Injury News Before Rangers Game
The Kansas City Royals announced unfortunate news on Thursday regarding longtime center fielder Kyle Isbel.
Isbel was removed from the June 9 game against the Texas Rangers after suffering a left foot plantar fascia injury. The 29-year-old was later put on the 10-day injured list.
The severity of the injury was unclear until the announcement Thursday morning.
The Royals revealed that Isbel is dealing with a Grade 3 tear in a portion of his left plantar fasciitis. This injury could keep Isbel out for a couple months.
At the plate, Isbel is slashing .244/.298/.354 in 56 games this season. He has three home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBIs and five stolen bases.
Kyle Isbel has a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fasciitis.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 11, 2026
Seth Lugo's CT scan was clear, and he will continue to be monitored.
While he had not been producing offensively for the team, the six-year veteran showcases amazing defense in center field.
Per Baseball Savant, Isbel has four Outs Above Average and ranks in the 90th percentile in Range in the outfield.
He also showcases great Baserunning Run Value, with 2, which ranks in the 92th percentile in baseball.
While the team as a whole continues to struggle offensively, holding a .694 OPS, Isbel has kept the team stable in the field and on the basepaths.
Taking over the center field duties will likely be a combination of Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner. Misner was called up as the corresponding move with Isbel going to the injured list.
Thomas has had success in his major league career as a lefty-hitting specialist. Against lefties this season, Thomas is hitting to a .756 OPS with 16 hits, a home run and eight RBIs in 61 plate appearances. He normally holds a .800 to .900 OPS against left-handed pitching, and with his increased playing time, he could reach those numbers again.
Misner struggled in his limited major league time with the Tampa Bay Rays across 2024 and 2025. However, he has been crushing in Triple-A Omaha this season. He holds a slash line of .276/.373/.547 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs in 59 games. That kind of power and production could be the spark at the Royals offense needs to get back into the American League Wild Card race.
There will be more news on Isbel's status and timeline as he starts to rehab. The Royals hope that the defensive specialist will not be out long, as he has had a large impact on their team.
The Kyle Isbel-less Royals play their series finale against the Texas Rangers Thursday at 2:10 p.m.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 9:37 AM.