How Royals’ bullpen coach produced a bonus highlight in Monday win vs. Nationals
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- Kyle Isbel hit a go-ahead two-run homer in Royals' 7-4 win over Nationals.
- Bullpen coach Mitch Stetter caught Isbel's homer barehanded during sixth inning.
- Since All-Star break, Isbel has posted .333 average and .851 OPS at the plate.
Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel has been on a hot streak since All-Star break and it continued in Monday’s 7-4 series-opening victory over the Washington Nationals at Kauffman Stadium.
Isbel hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning. The decisive blow helped the Royals surge forward for good.
But Isbel’s home run wasn’t the only impressive feat. The baseball traveled into the Royals’ bullpen, where it landed in the bare hand of KC bullpen coach Mitch Stetter.
Stetter was in the right spot at the right time. He reached out and caught Isbel’s homer and then simply returned to his bullpen duties with the Royals’ relievers.
What’s more, this isn’t the first time it happened.
“I actually heard about it and it was the second time he has done it this year,” Isbel said after the game. “I hit him two balls and it’s kind of crazy. He just needs to be in position.”
Isbel’s homer snapped his streak of at-bats without a home run — it was his first since May 6 against the Chicago White Sox. But he has been hot of late: Since the All-Star Break, Isbel is hitting .333 with 12 runs, 10 RBIs and a .851 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
On Monday, he finished 1-for-3 and also drew a walk.
“It’s just learning myself really and I think that’s the biggest thing,” Isbel said. “Just not trying to do too much, know what I’m capable of doing and being the best version of myself.”
While Isbel didn’t actually see Stetter’s catch, the ballpark and TV cameras caught it. And the Royals’ dugout burst with excitement afterward.
“Yeah, we all saw it in the dugout,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Izzy didn’t hit it that hard. That’s the big takeaway.”
The Royals have relied on Isbel to come through at the bottom of the batting order. He responded to the task at hand Monday and the club hopes this sort of production can continue.
“Izzy’s been doing a really good job at the plate for quite a while now,” Quatraro said. “So it’s nice to see him (do that). And it’s funny, I think he hits most of his homers here, which is odd with how big the ballpark is. But you know, that’s a huge spot in the game.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
