Tyler Gentry
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Tyler Gentry
|image = Tyler Gentry (53707121545) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Gentry with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
|team = Kansas City Royals
|number = 27
|position = Outfielder
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|2|1}}
|birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = August 25
|debutyear = 2024
|debutteam = Kansas City Royals
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = 2024 season
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .000
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 0
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 0
|teams =
- Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2024}})
}}
Tyler Jackson Gentry (born February 1, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Amateur career
Gentry attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Tennessee, where he played baseball. As a junior in 2016, he batted .341 with 33 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://usatodayhss.com/2017/super-25-preseason-baseball-five-more-teams-to-watch | title=Super 25 Preseason Baseball: Five more teams to watch | date=March 15, 2017 }} As a senior in 2017, he earned all-state honors.{{cite web | url=https://www.columbiadailyherald.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/08/09/baseball-coaches-name-2017-all/19825286007/ | title=Baseball coaches name 2017 all-state teams }} He went unselected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, and enrolled at Walters State Community College where he played one season of college baseball.
During Gentry's first and only season at Walters State in 2018, he batted .379 with 18 home runs over 64 games.{{cite web | url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/2020/06/13/former-walters-state-baseball-standouts-knack-gentry-selected-mlb-draft/3182461001/ | title=Former Walters State players Landon Knack, Tyler Gentry selected in MLB Draft | work=Knoxville News Sentinel }} Following the season's end, he transferred to the University of Alabama where he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team.{{cite web | url=https://www.audacy.com/610sports/articles/radiocom/tyler-gentry-is-looking-forward-to-the-minor-league-grind | title=Tyler Gentry is looking forward to the Minor League grind | date=June 18, 2020 }} Over 56 games in 2019 with the Crimson Tide, Gentry hit .310 with a team-high 13 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 37 runs scored.{{cite web | url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/2020/01/31/excitement-go-around-talented-youth-movement-has-reignited-hope-around-alabama-baseball/2855384001/ | title=Excitement to go around: Talented youth movement has reignited hope around Alabama baseball }}{{cite web | url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/2020/01/25/alabama-baseball-expects-powerful-lineup-in-2020/1832552007/ | title=Alabama baseball expects powerful lineup in 2020 }} That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Brewster Whitecaps where he was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1318177&seasonid=31871 |title=#28 Tyler Gentry - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 16, 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/?article_id=2608 |title=2019 CCBL All-Star Selections |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/sports/2020/06/20/summer-of-growth-leads-to-mlb-draft-selections-for-former-cape-league-players/42651787/ | title=Summer of growth leads to draft selections }} During his junior season in 2020, he batted .429 over 17 games before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional career
Gentry was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the third round with the 76th overall selection of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/alabama-outfielder-taken-by-royals-in-3rd-round | title=Royals select Alabama outfielder in 3rd Round | date=June 11, 2020 }} He signed for $750,000.{{cite web | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2020/07/05/kansas-city-royals-tyler-gentry-arlington-baseball/3273144001/ | title=Former Arlington slugger Tyler Gentry signs with Kansas City | work=The Commercial Appeal }} Gentry did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=September 17, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Gentry made his professional debut in 2021 with the High–A Quad Cities River Bandits.{{cite web | url=https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/big-night-shows-growth-for-bandits-gentry/article_75b6d200-5c20-5770-bb98-a8e11ad9dbdf.html | title=Big night shows growth for Bandits' Gentry | date=June 5, 2021 }} His season ended in mid-July due to knee injuries.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hottest-hitting-prospect-for-each-team | title=Each team's hottest-hitting prospect | website=MLB.com }} Over 44 games prior to the injury, he batted .259 with six home runs and 28 RBI. Gentry opened the 2022 season with Quad Cities and was promoted to the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals in early June.{{cite web | url=https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/familiar-faces-return-to-river-bandits/article_c9670fbf-e6cd-5bf3-b32a-23cfd822b0a7.html | title=Familiar faces return to River Bandits | date=April 4, 2022 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3365896/2022/06/14/royals-minor-league-prospects/ | title=Royals minor-league prospect news: Q&A with farm director Mitch Maier | website=The Athletic | last1=Lewis | first1=Alec }}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-tyler-gentry-climbs-to-double-a/ | title=Royals' Tyler Gentry: Climbs to Double-A | date=June 14, 2022 }} Over 108 games between the two teams, he slashed .326/.422/.542 with 21 home runs, 86 RBI, 22 doubles, and 10 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-gentry-694355?season=2022&team=1350 | title=Tyler Gentry Stats, Fantasy & News }} He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros after the season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-rosters-2022 | title=The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded | website=MLB.com }} Gentry was assigned to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A International League for the 2023 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-royals-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season | title=Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season | website=MLB.com }} Over 129 games, he batted .253 with 16 home runs, 71 RBI, and 28 doubles.{{Cite web |title=Tyler Gentry Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-gentry-694355 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}
On November 14, 2023, the Royals added Gentry to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html|title=KC Royals protect two players from Rule 5 Draft. Here's who was added to 40-man roster|publisher=The Kansas City Star|website=www.kansascity.com|last=Thompson|first=Jaylon|date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815152521/https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html|archive-date=August 15, 2024|url-status=live}} He was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Tyler Gentry: Sent to minor-league camp|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-tyler-gentry-sent-to-minor-league-camp/amp/|date=March 16, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 105 games for Omaha, Gentry hit .256/.346/.429 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. On August 25, 2024, Gentry was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite news |title=Royals place Hunter Renfroe on IL, call up prospect Tyler Gentry |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40991257/royals-place-hunter-renfroe-il-call-prospect-tyler-gentry |access-date=August 25, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=August 25, 2024}} He made his debut later that day in an 11–3 Royals loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, coming in to pinch-hit for MJ Melendez in the bottom of the eighth inning. Facing José Alvarado, Gentry swung at the first pitch and flew out to right fielder Nick Castellanos. Gentry finished the game in right field.{{Cite web |title=Phillies 11-3 Royals (Aug 25, 2024) |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570428 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825203102/https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570428 |archive-date=August 25, 2024 |access-date=August 26, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Gentry was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Prospects Cameron, Avila and Cerantola among camp cuts|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/noah-cameron-luinder-avila-to-start-2025-season-in-triple-a-omaha|access-date=March 12, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=694355|espn=4414108|br=g/gentrty01|fangraphs=27784|brm=gentry000tyl|retro=G/Pgentt001}}
- [https://rolltide.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-gentry/6026 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{Kansas City Royals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gentry, Tyler}}
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players
Category:Baseball players from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Brewster Whitecaps players
Category:Kansas City Royals players
Category:Major League Baseball outfielders
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players
Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players