Former Alabama Outfielder Tyler Gentry Named Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ 2022 Player of the Year
10/12/2022 9:05:00 AM | Baseball
Gentry is one of 12 players in the Kansas City Royals organization that were recognized for the honors from their respective MiLB club
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama outfielder Tyler Gentry was named the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' 2022 Player of the Year, the Double-A affiliated announced in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals organization last week.
Gentry began his 2022 campaign in High-A Quad Cities before getting the call up to the Naturals on June 14. The outfielder proved his value, remaining in Double-A the rest of the season and appearing in 73 games. He slashed an impressive .321/.417/.555 line with 88 hits, including 32 for extra-bases – 16 of which were home runs – and knocked in 63 RBI. Splitting time across the corner outfield spots, Gentry also led the team with nine outfield assists.
He finished near the top of nearly every offensive statistic for Northwest Arkansas, leading the team in batting average, slugging and OPS, while ranking second in home runs and on-base percentage, third in RBI and fifth in total bases. From his call-up date to the end of the Double-A slate on Sept. 18, Gentry ranked among the Texas League leaders in some key offensive statistics. He finished second in total bases and RBI, third in on-base, slugging and OPS, fourth in home runs, tied for fifth in runs and sixth overall in batting average.
Across his 108 combined games between High-A and Double-A, Gentry ranked eighth in Minor League Baseball for batting average (.326), 12th in OPS (.964) and 13th in on-base percentage (.422).
"Congratulations to Tyler for being named the Kansas City Royals Double-A Hitter of the Year," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "It was obvious during his time here at Alabama that Tyler was extremely talented with very strong intangibles. There was no doubt in our minds that he would be an outstanding professional. The Kansas City Royals organization is lucky to have him!"
A second round pick of the Royals in the abbreviated 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Gentry became the second-highest outfielder selected in program history. He finished his two years at UA with a career .335 batting average that included 18 doubles and 17 home runs while contributing 63 RBI and 56 runs scored across 73 games (72 starts). He led the Tide offense in most offensive metrics during the 2020 campaign, a trend that began in 2019. That sophomore season saw Gentry pace UA in average (.310), hits (65), home runs (13), RBI (42), slugging (.552) and total bases (116).
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