Tyler Tolbert Makes MLB Debut With Kansas City Royals
PAPILLION, NEB. – Omaha Storm Chasers utility player Tyler Tolbert made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 31, 2025, in their game at American Family Field against the Milwaukee Brewers, the second Storm Chaser to debut in the Major Leagues this season and the first
PAPILLION, NEB. – Omaha Storm Chasers utility player Tyler Tolbert made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 31, 2025, in their game at American Family Field against the Milwaukee Brewers, the second Storm Chaser to debut in the Major Leagues this season and the first with the Royals.
The 27-year-old joined the Royals in Milwaukee for the series opener against the Brewers and entered the game Monday as a pinch-hitter for Michael Massey in the eighth inning, then finished the game in center field.
With his entry into Monday’s game, Tolbert is the 337th player in franchise history that has made their MLB debut after playing for the Triple-A Omaha club. The Alabama native is in his sixth season of professional baseball, after being selected by Kansas City in the 13th round of the 2019 Major League draft, 379th overall, out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Tolbert has been recognized as Kansas City's Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year (the top baserunner in the Royals organization) in three of the last four seasons (2021, 2022, 2024). As a professional, he is 243-for-258 (94.2% success rate) in stolen base attempts and his 243 steals are the most of any professional baseball player since 2019.
A second-year Storm Chaser, Tolbert opened and closed 2024 with Omaha, appearing in 27 Triple-A games last season. To open 2025, he started both of Omaha’s games last weekend in Iowa at second base, recording two hits, two steals and two runs scored. Named the Royals’ George Brett Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2023, Tolbert spent the bulk of 2024 in Double-A with Northwest Arkansas, in addition to the entirety of the 2023 season with the Naturals.
He spent 2022 with High-A Quad Cities and went 60-for-60 in stolen base attempts, a feat that no player had accomplished since at least 1992. Having successfully stolen his first 8 bases of the 2023 season, Tolbert compiled a stretch of 86 consecutive steals without being caught, stretching 178 games between July 2021 with Single-A Columbia and May 2023 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Tolbert is the first player for the Storm Chasers this season to get called up to Kansas City, the second to make their Major League debut after right-handed pitcher Noah Murdock (2024) made his MLB debut with the Athletics on Saturday, March 29 at Seattle.
Chasers Comeback Falls Short in 14-10 Loss to Clippers
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers nearly completed a miraculous comeback Thursday night at Werner Park, but fell to the Columbus Clippers 14-10. Columbus controlled the first half of the game, scoring 9 runs over the first 5.0 innings. Omaha starter Luinder Avila opened the game with a scoreless
Three Homers Power Chasers to 8-3 win over Clippers
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers won a second straight game over the Columbus Clippers, as three homers and a quality start paved the way for an 8-3 victory Wednesday night at Werner Park. John Rave walked to open the bottom of the first inning, then quickly scored on
Storm Chasers win Series Opener Over Clippers 9-3
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers won the series opener over the Columbus Clippers, a 9-3 win Tuesday night at Werner Park. Chandler Champlain earned his first win of the season, holding the Clippers to 1 run over 5.0 innings, while allowing just one walk and striking out six.
Chasers Walked off in Louisville to Split Series With Bats
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Omaha Storm Chasers were walked off on by the Louisville Bats, 4-3 in the nine innings, to force a series split at Louisville Slugger Field. The two teams traded scoreless frames in the first three innings, but the Bats got on the board in the fourth,
Avila Spins Gem in 9-0 Omaha win at Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Omaha Storm Chasers won a third straight game over the Louisville Bats, a 9-0 win Saturday at Louisville Slugger Field. Right-hander Luinder Avila compiled his best outing at the Triple-A level and one of the best of his professional career, as the righty held the Bats
Chasers Even Series With 5-2 win over Bats
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Omaha Storm Chasers evened this week’s series with the Louisville Bats at one win apiece, with a 5-2 win Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The two teams traded runs early, with both sides scoring a run in the first. John Rave and Nick Loftin drew
Hatch First Quality Start as Chasers Beat Bats
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Omaha Storm Chasers scored six runs in the sixth inning, en route to a 6-1 win over the Louisville Bats Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field. Omaha starter Thomas Hatch threw his first quality start of the season, holding the Bats to one run over 6.0 innings.
Rave Homers Twice but Omaha Falls in Louisville 6-5
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Despite a pair of home runs from John Rave, the Omaha Storm Chasers fell to the Louisville Bats, 6-5 at Louisville Slugger Field Wednesday afternoon. Rave opened the game with a solo homer, his third such long ball of the season, giving Omaha a 1-0 lead. He
Omaha falls to Louisville 9-1
LOUISVILLE, KY. - Despite promising early defense, the Omaha Storm Chasers’ bats remained stagnant and an explosive 8th inning from the Louisville Bats saw Omaha fall in the series opener 9-1. Noah Cameron made his first Triple-A start since making his dominant MLB Debut with the Royals at Tampa Bay,
Five Homers Fuel Omaha’s 8-1 Win
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers forced a series split with the Indianapolis Indians, as a season-high five home runs and dominant pitching led to Omaha’s largest winning margin of the season, 8-1. Omaha scored two runs in the first and stayed ahead for the rest of the game.
Chasers Bullpen Holds Indy Scoreless in 5-1 win
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers played back into the win column Saturday night, with a 5-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians. Omaha threw a bullpen game, opened by Anthony Simonelli, who tossed a scoreless first inning. Simonelli allowed an unearned run in the second, then Omaha’s bullpen kept
Chasers Held to 2 Hits in 6-0 Loss to Indy
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers lost a second straight game and third of four this week with the Indianapolis Indians, a 6-0 shutout loss Friday night at Werner Park. The Indians scored a run in the third on an RBI single off Omaha starter Thomas Hatch and led
Omaha Falls to Indianapolis 7-2
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers fell to the Indianapolis Indians 7-2 Thursday night at Werner Park, trailing for all nine innings in the game. The contest opened as a pitchers’ duel, with just one hit between the two sides over the first three innings. Omaha’s Ryan Ramsey allowed
Noah Cameron Makes MLB Debut With Kansas City Royals
PAPILLION, NEB. – Omaha Storm Chasers left-handed starting pitcher Noah Cameron made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in their game at George M. Steinbrenner Field against the Tampa Bay Rays, the fourth Storm Chaser to debut in the Major Leagues this season
Chasers Score Seven Unanswered to Snap Losing Streak
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers ended their eight-game losing streak Wednesday night, clinching a comeback win to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 9-6 to collect their first win since April 18. Omaha starter Chandler Champlain set the tone early, retiring the first seven batters he faced. Peyton Wilson collected
Storm Chasers Drop Series Opener to Indians
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers lost an eighth consecutive game, dropping Tuesday’s series opener to the Indianapolis Indians 9-7. Indianapolis plated four runs in the first inning on a grand slam and led the rest of the day, with a sacrifice fly in the third inning adding another
Storm Chasers Fall 2-0 to Mud Hens
TOLEDO, OHIO – The Omaha Storm Chasers lost a seventh straight game, falling to the Toledo Mud Hens 2-0 Sunday afternoon, as the Mud Hens swept the Storm Chasers in the six-game series. Toledo scored its first run in the second inning and led the rest of the way, as
Omaha Swept by Toledo in Doubleheader
TOLEDO, OHIO – The Omaha Storm Chasers were swept in a doubleheader Saturday at Fifth Third Field, losing to the Toledo Mud Hens by scores of 3-1 and 4-1. GAME 1: Toledo 3, Omaha 1 After both teams saw their opening pitcher fire two scoreless innings, including 2.0 hitless innings
Omaha Drops Third Straight to Toledo
TOLEDO, OHIO – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a third straight game to the Toledo Mud Hens losing 4-3 in 9 innings in the second walk-off defeat of the week for Omaha. Omaha starter Chandler Champlain started strong, retiring his first five batters before four straight singles and an error
Chasers Drop Second Straight to Mud Hens
TOLEDO, OHIO - The Omaha Storm Chasers let twice and kept the game close but couldn’t keep up with the Toledo Mud Hens, falling 8-4 Wednesday at Fifth Third Field. Omaha started hot in the top of the first with a leadoff single from Dustin Dickerson. MJ Melendez followed with
Storm Chasers Drop Series Opener to Mud Hens in 13 Innings
TOLEDO, OHIO – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped the series opener to the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday night, a 9-8 loss in 13 innings that lasted over 4 hours. The first four batters of the game reached base for Omaha, with Luke Maile drawing a bases-loaded walk to take a
April 20th Omaha Storm Chasers Game Cancelled
PAPILLION, NEB. – Due to current rain showers and impending inclement weather throughout the day, the Omaha Storm Chasers’ home game against the Norfolk Tides has been cancelled today – Sunday, April 20th – due to inclement weather. With today’s game being the final time Omaha and Norfolk play each
Chasers Fall to Tides 11-1
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers fell to the Norfolk Tides 11-1 Saturday afternoon at Werner Park. Throwing a bullpen game for the third time in four days, Omaha fell behind early as the Tides tagged starter Anthony Simonelli for one run in the first. Norfolk knocked Simonelli out
Sixth Inning Rally Carries Chasers to 10-8 win Over Tides
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers scored eight runs in the sixth inning for the team’s third come-from-behind win of the week, a 10-8 victory Friday night over the Norfolk Tides at Werner Park. Norfolk jumped out to an early lead, tagging starter Noah Cameron for three runs in
Chasers top Tides 4-2 for Second Comeback win of Series
PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers scored three in the eighth inning for the team’s second late comeback win of the week, a 4-2 win over the Norfolk Tides Thursday night at Werner Park. After both starting pitchers threw scoreless first innings, Thursday’s game entered a rain delay before