Most baseball fans know that as long as Shohei Ohtani keeps producing the way he is, considering anyone else for AL MVP is a moot point. But there is a player making some noise with his bat. He has a famous baseball name and plays in America’s heartland. Come on down, Bobby Witt Jr.
Prized Prospect
The eyes of the baseball world have been on Witt for many years now. Witt, son of MLB pitcher Bobby Witt and nephew of another MLB pitcher, Mike Witt, was a standout high school player at Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX. In his senior year, he batted 515, hit 15 home runs, and drove in 54 runs. As a result, he was named the 2019 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year.
Originally signed to play baseball at the University of Oklahoma, Witt instead signed with the Kansas City Royals when they selected him second overall in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. The only player chosen ahead of him was the Oriole’s standout catcher, Adley Rutschman, out of Oregon State. Witt signed a hefty $7.79 million contract and started his career with the Rookie-Level Arizona League Royals.
Witt in the Minors
Witt started his professional career well. In 37 games, he hit .262 with one home run and 27 RBIs. The next season, Witt, like all minor leaguers that year, had their season wiped out by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
He started the 2021 season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. After a slow start, he caught fire and was promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where he proceeded to tear the cover off the ball. At season’s end, in 123 games, he produced a slash line of .290/.361/.575, coupled with 33 dingers and 29 stolen bases. After the season, he was named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year.
Major League Debut
At the start of the 2022 season, Witt was named MLB’s #1 Prospect. As expected, he headed north with the team set to make his MLB debut. In his first game for the Royals, he doubled home the winning run in the eighth inning, which eventually led to a 3-1 Kansas City victory.
After some early season struggles, he eventually broke through and ended the year, hitting 20 homers and driving in 82 runs. He was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team and finished fourth in the voting for AL Rookie of the Year. He was on his way.
Breakout Year and MVP Consideration
And it all came together in 2023. Witt tore up bases and opposing pitchers last season to the tune of 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases. He also led the league in triples with 11 and drove in 96 runs. The only blemish on the season is that he was not named to the AL All-Star team. Due to the Royals’ poor record, catcher Salvador Perez was Kansas City’s only representative to the mid-season classic.
And he hasn’t missed a beat in 2024. He is currently batting .309 and has hit nine home runs and stolen 16 bases. He is a lock for the All-Star Game, and Witt is now considered to be the top shortstop in all of baseball. And the MVP whispers are getting a little louder.
