Royals’ 27-Year-Old Starter Faces Uncertainty in 2025: ‘Final Chance’
The bar has been raised in Kansas City…
With high expectations come intense pressure, and the Kansas City Royals are under close scrutiny in 2025 like they haven’t been in recent years.
After a playoff appearance in 2024, the Royals are aiming to compete for a division title and an American League pennant this year. To achieve that, they’ll need far better performances from players other than Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt was a standout with a nine-win season, according to rWAR. Without him, the Royals were at best a .500 team, largely due to their pitching struggles, and the outfield was one of the league’s weakest.
So, who needs to rise to the occasion for the Royals to meet their ambitious goals in 2025? One Royals writer is highlighting the team’s starting center fielder.
On Tuesday, Ryan Heffernon of SB Nation suggested that 2025 could be Kyle Isbel’s “final chance” to retain his starting center field position, pointing out that his offense is significantly lagging behind his defense, and it will be difficult for him to prove his worth unless he makes significant improvements.
“Isbel is a strong defender, but he’ll need to be exceptional defensively to compensate for his bat unless he steps up,” Heffernon noted. “It’s tough to be a starting player with just speed and defense.”
“Heffernon added, “The easier path for Isbel is improving his offense, but at 27, he hasn’t shown much progress since his rookie year. If his struggles continue in 2025, a Kansas City team looking to compete may need to explore other options.”
Isbel will turn 28 next week and has primarily been known for his defense. His 83 OPS+ last season was slightly better than his career average of 80, but with a .283 career on-base percentage, he’s limiting the team’s chances of starting rallies near the bottom of the lineup.
The Royals may not have a clear replacement for Isbel in the minor leagues, but they could pursue a trade. In particular, keep an eye on division rival Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox as a potential target if Isbel’s struggles persist.
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