Kansas City Royals Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made history with his spectacular 2024 season. He became only the second shortstop in Major League Baseball history to win a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and a batting title. Witt Jr. was the only shortstop to accomplish all three feats in the same season. The last player to accomplish this feat in the same season was Boston Red Sox Right Fielder Mookie Betts.
Witt Jr. hit .332 during the regular season with 32 home runs and 109 RBI. Witt Jr. finished 16th in the league in home runs, sixth in RBI, sixth in OBP, third in Slugging Percentage, fourth in OPS, and second in WAR. All of these exemplary statistics led to Witt Jr. being named one of the three AL MVP finalists. He joined New York Yankees Center Fielder Aaron Judge and Yankees Right Fielder Juan Soto as the other two finalists. The shortstop struggled in the 2024 MLB Playoffs as he hit .192 with 2 RBI. Will the Kansas City Royals superstar be able to keep up his stellar level of play in 2025 and beyond?
Bobby Witt Jr. Career Summary
BWJ makes history in his third season! pic.twitter.com/ptmOgSwto1
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 14, 2024
Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s best players since he made his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2022. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and seventh in AL MVP voting last season. With him being named an AL MVP finalist, the star shortstop is guaranteed the first top-three MVP finish of his career. Witt Jr. helped Kansas City defy expectations during the 2024 season. The Royals were expected to be one of the league’s worst teams in 2024, but instead, they were one of the best.
They finished with the second-best record in the American League(86-76) but were bested by the New York Yankees in four games in the ALDS. Kansas City made the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2015 when they beat the New York Mets in the World Series. Kansas City’s offense, led by Witt Jr. was a large part of the team’s success this season. They were 10th in team batting average, 13th in runs scored, 12th in Slugging Percentage, and 14th in OPS.
Final Thoughts
Even though Witt Jr. will not be named the 2024 AL MVP, it does not discount what a great season he had. Aaron Judge just had a better season. The performance of Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals illustrated that he is one of the best players in the league, and with him at the helm, the Royals will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
