RADIO
Tyler Tolbert Back to Bench Role After Historic Three-Game Stretch?
Kansas City Royals shortstop/outfielder Tyler Tolbert made history last week when he recorded hits in 12 straight at-bats over a three-game stretch to tie the MLB record for most hits in consecutive at-bats, but he started on the bench in the final three games before the All-Star break. Tolbert's move back to the bench coincided with first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino rejoining the lineup after returning from the injured list. The 28-year-old will now most likely open the second half of the 2026 season in more of a utility role for the Royals, limiting his fantasy baseball upside to AL-only leagues for his speed on the basepaths. In 32 games (60 plate appearances) in the first half of his second MLB season, Tolbert hit .370 (20-for-54) with two homers, five RBI, 10 steals, and 17 runs scored. Tolbert also had 21 stolen bases in 64 games as a rookie in 2025, so speed is clearly his biggest draw in deeper leagues. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Tolbert to be as good in the second half, but his speed can play against left-handed pitchers.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tyler Tolbert Emerging as a Speed Threat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 57 plate appearances this season, Kansas City Royals utility man Tyler Tolbert is hitting .373/.411/.510 with two home runs, five RBI, 17 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The 28-year-old has been utilized as a pinch runner and a defensive replacement for most of 2026. However, Tolbert has moved into more of an everyday role of late and has been red-hot, collecting 12 hits in his last 16 plate appearances. Tolbert has never demonstrated much power throughout his professional career, so fantasy managers should not expect his current surge to be a sign of a full-scale breakout. Still, Tolbert offers elite speed, which has helped him log a .327 batting average across 114 career MLB plate appearances. For fantasy managers in need of stolen bases and some batting average upside, Tolbert could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Tolbert Ties MLB Record With 12 Consecutive Hits
Kansas City Royals shorstop/outfielder Tyler Tolbert became just the fifth player in MLB history to record hits in 12 consecutive at-bats on Tuesday in the team's wild 16-12 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field. For the second straight day, Tolbert recorded five hits while also driving in two and scoring four runs to boost his season batting average to .396 and his OPS to .976. The 28-year-old former 13th-round selection in 2019 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham hit his second home run of the year on Tuesday night after failing to clear the fences in 49 games between Triple-A Omaha and the Royals this season. Tolbert added his 10th stolen base of the season on Tuesday night. In his rookie campaign in 2025, Tolbert hit .280/.321/.380 with a .701 OPS, one homer, six RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 19 runs scored. Fantasy managers definitely shouldn't read too much into his impressive hit streak over the last couple of days, but he could be a decent source of speed in AL-only leagues if he sticks around with the Royals going into the second half of the season. Tolbert is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Pops Two Homers in Losing Effort Against Rays
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. put forth his best effort on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, but it was not enough in the team's 10-4 loss. Witt went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI to boost his season average to .294 and his OPS to .846. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2019 finished June with only three long balls, but he came into Tuesday's contest hitting .293 (22-for-75) during the month with a homer, five doubles, seven RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 14 runs scored in 20 games and 90 plate appearances. He also entered Tuesday's clash against Tampa with a strong .288/.363/.456 slash line with an .819 OPS, 10 homers, 33 RBI, 28 steals, and 42 runs scored in 309 at-bats in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues. The two-time All-Star is one of the best and most consistent five-category producers in fantasy at the premier position of shortstop. Witt is a must-start in fantasy lineups every day he's in the starting lineup.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Returns to the Lineup as DH on Friday
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat second for the Royals in Friday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, per MLB.com. Josh Rojas will start at shortstop and bat seventh. While Witt isn't all the way back from a sprained MCL in his knee, he will make his first start since June 18. Even at less than 100%, Witt is better than most players in the league, and he'll return on Friday to a .294/.368/.465 slash line, .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, a league-leading 28 stolen bases, 40 runs scored, and a league-leading 4.3 WAR in 76 games across 337 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Witt's little injury layoff in the last week won't slow him down. In 17 games so far in June, he has gone 21-for-65 (.323) with a homer, four doubles, six RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 12 runs scored in 77 plate appearances. Even as the DH, Witt needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups on Friday in traditional formats. If he doesn't suffer a setback with his knee on Friday, expect him to return to the 6 on either Saturday or Sunday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Out Again on Thursday Against Rays
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) will sit out of the series finale on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, according to MLB.com. Tyler Tolbert will make yet another start at shortstop for the Royals and will hit ninth against Rays right-hander Casey Legumina. Witt is dealing with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee and will be missing his sixth straight start. The Royals have been optimistic that Witt doesn't need a stint on the injured list, but if he cannot play this weekend against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, their tune could change. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Witt is active for the series opener on the South Side of Chicago. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft has been a must-start, five-category contributor for fantasy managers when healthy, slashing .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 homers, 32 RBI, 28 steals, and 40 runs scored in his 299 at-bats this year. UPDATE: Manager Matt Quatraro said that Witt is on track to return to the lineup for Friday's series opener against Chicago, per Bally Sports KC's Joel Goldberg.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Out for Fifth Straight Game With MCL Sprain
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is missing his fifth straight game on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field as he recovers from a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee, per MLB.com. Tyler Tolbert is making another start at the 6 for KC and will bat ninth in the batting order on Wednesday against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax. The Royals are optimistic that Witt will not need a stint on the injured list, and the fact that he was able to do pre-game workouts before the first two games of the series in Tampa is a good sign. Witt's next chance to return to the starting nine will be for Thursday's series finale against the Rays. Fantasy managers will want to check back then for an update on the 26-year-old two-time All-Star, who is hitting a strong .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 homers, 32 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in his 299 at-bats in 2026. When active, the former second overall pick in 2019 is a must-start in all fantasy formats. Tolbert should continue to be ignored in DFS lineups. UPDATE: Witt told reporters that he's available off the bench on Wednesday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Still Absent on Tuesday With Knee Injury
Kansas City Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) remains sidelined for Tuesday's contest in Tampa against the first-place Rays, per MLB.com. With Maikel Garcia (hand) landing on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, Tyler Tolbert is making the start at the 6 for the Royals and will hit eighth against Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan. Witt is missing a fourth straight game due to a Grade 1 sprain of the MCL in his right knee, but he went through a full pre-game workout on Monday, and the Royals are optimistic that he'll avoid a stint on the injured list. When healthy, the 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2019 is a must-start as a five-category contributor in all leagues. Witt, a two-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger winner, comes into Tuesday's action with a .294/.368/.465 slash line, an .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, 28 runs scored, and 40 runs scored in 76 games across 337 plate appearances. Hopefully, Witt will be ready to return for the third game of a four-game series in Tampa on Wednesday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Still Out With Knee Injury
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) remains out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com. Maikel Garcia is starting at shortstop and batting second, with Nick Loftin starting at the hot corner and batting eighth against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. The Royals believe that Witt will avoid going on the injured list, but he has yet to play since being pulled from last Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee. The longer the All-Star shortstop remains out, the greater the chance that he will go on the IL to close out the month of June. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger can do it all on the baseball field and is one of the best five-category contributors in the game. He's currently slashing .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in 76 games played and 337 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he can return to the starting nine for the Royals. UPDATE: According to MLB.com's Brian Murphy, Witt hit in the batting cages, fielded grounders, and ran the bases before Monday's game against Tampa.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Progressing, Remains Out on Sunday
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) remains out of his team's lineup for their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. However, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Witt Jr. is "feeling better" and will be reevaluated on Monday, per Anne Rogers on MLB.com. Witt Jr. was diagnosed with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee on Friday, but it appears he has a chance to avoid a stint on the injured list. The 26-year-old has been an elite fantasy shortstop once again this season, hitting .294/.368/.465 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 28 stolen bases. While Witt Jr.'s presence in the Royals lineup is obviously preferable for fantasy managers, it's possible that playing through a knee injury may slow him down on the bases. Still, Witt Jr. is a must-start shortstop as long as he's active.
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Bobby Witt Jr. Diagnosed With Grade 1 MCL Sprain
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.'s (knee) MRI exam on Friday showed a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee, according to Royals sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker. Witt is sitting out on Friday versus the St. Louis Cardinals after being pulled from Thursday's game early against the Cardinals with a knee issue. The Royals have a scheduled day off on Saturday, but they are hoping that the All-Star infielder will be ready to return for the series finale at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. Manager Matt Quatraro said that Witt's MRI results are a "best-case scenario," and the team is optimistic he'll be back for the series finale in KC on Sunday. Fantasy managers can breathe easy knowing that the 26-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner shouldn't need a trip to the injured list. Going into Friday's action, the former second overall pick in 2019 continues to contribute across the board for his fantasy managers, hitting .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, a league-best 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in 76 games played across 337 plate appearances in his fifth year in the league.
Source: Tricia Whitaker
Source: Tricia Whitaker
Maikel Garcia Still Out on Friday, Injured-List Stint Coming?
Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) is out of the team's starting lineup again on Friday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, per MLB.com. Garcia's injury (just soreness) to his right hand doesn't seem serious, but this is the third straight game that he will be missing after he left early on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals. For now, he's being considered day-to-day with something that he has battled over the last month. If he cannot return to action at some point this weekend (the Royals have an off day on Sunday), it wouldn't be a surprise to see him land on the injured list next week. Nick Loftin is starting at third base again on Friday and is batting sixth versus Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy. The 26-year-old Garcia is primarily valuable in all fantasy leagues for his speed and multi-position eligibility (second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield). He enters Friday's action with a .266/.326/.378 slash line, .705 OPS, only three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 259 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Knee Injury Keeps Bobby Witt Jr. Out on Friday
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) will sit out of Friday's contest against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals after injuring his knee on Thursday, according to MLB.com. Tyler Tolbert will make the start at shortstop for the Royals and will bat ninth against Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy. The Royals have a scheduled day off on Saturday, so Sunday will be the next time that Witt will have a chance to return. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if the star shortstop is available to return. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner continues to contribute across all categories for fantasy managers in 2026, slashing .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, a league-high 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in a league-high 76 games played and 337 plate appearances. Whenever Witt returns to KC's lineup, he'll be a must-start in fantasy. Taylor should be ignored in all DFS formats against McGreevy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Leaves with Knee Discomfort
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Witt appears to have suffered a right knee injury when he landed awkwardly while trying to make a play in the fourth inning. He was replaced by Tyler Tolbert shortly after that. Before leaving the game, Witt went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and two RBI. The team is calling it right knee discomfort, which means Witt should be considered day-to-day right now. The Royals could have Witt undergo further testing. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Friday, but Tolbert could see more action at shortstop for a few days. UPDATE: Manager Matt Quatraro told reporters after the game that Witt went for additional testing on his injured right knee, according to Jaylon Thompson of The Kansas City Star.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Maikel Garcia Remains Out of Action With Hand Injury
Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) remains sidelined for Thursday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to MLB.com. Nick Loftin will make another start at the hot corner for KC and will bat seventh against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Garcia is dealing with soreness in his left hand and will miss a second straight game. It's an injury that he has been dealing with for a while now, and it's unclear if it's serious enough to land him on the injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Garcia is back in action. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has hit .257 (9-for-35) in 11 games in June with a double, a triple, nine RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base through 39 plate appearances. Garcia is rostered in most fantasy leagues because of his ability to contribute across all categories, although his counting stats have been lacking a bit so far in 2026. He enters Thursday's game with a .266/.326/.378 slash line, .705 OPS, only three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five steals in his 259 at-bats for the Royals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
