Royals Draft Gentry

With the fourth pick in the third round, the Kansas City Royals selected outfielder, Tyler Gentry. Gentry became the second-highest outfielder selected in program history after Joe Vitiello went in the first round in 1991. Gentry is eligible to return to Alabama should he choose not to sign a professional contract.

Gentry was ranked the 81st overall prospect by MLB.com, while Baseball America ranked him the 177th overall prospect.

Gentry was the only outfielder selected by the Royals and one of two positional players selected by Kansas City. Gentry batted .335 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs during his Crimson Tide career. The junior outfielder transferred to the Capstone after spending his freshman year at Wallace State Community College. He is the highest Alabama player picked in the draft since Mikey White was selected in 2015.

He led Alabama in batting average in his season and a half playing for the Crimson Tide, including three mulit-home run games. His .750 slugging percentage in 2020 was good for fifth in the SEC and 28th nationally.

Gentry started in 72 of his 73 appearances for the Crimson Tide and recorded 152 put-outs in the field with only two errors.

He will join fellow SEC player, Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy, drafted fourth overall in the first round by the Royals.

The Royals last made the playoffs in its World Series winning run in 2015. They defeated the Mets in five games to secure the franchise's second World Series title. Kansas City finished 2019 with a 59-103 record and Ned Yost stepped down as manager. Mike Matheny is set to begin his first year as manager if the MLPA and owners can come to an agreement to start the 2020 season.