Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the lone bright spots this year. Now in his fifth MLB season, no player in the league provides more of an all-around impact than Witt. After a slow start at the plate, he has turned it up since May.
Overall, he has posted a .290 batting average, .364 on-base percentage, .815 OPS, nine home runs and 30 RBIs across 75 games this year. He also remains one of the game's best base stealers, leading the league with 28 stolen bases while being caught just four times.
Witt is also the best defender at a premium position in shortstop. He is a two-time Gold Glove award winner, and the stats back it up further. According to Baseball Savant, he has posted a Fielding Run Value of 13.
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Aside from his overall impact, much of Witt's value comes from his ability to stay on the field every day. This year he had started 76 straight games for Kansas City, including Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Unfortunately, that streak is now in jeopardy. After fielding a ground ball to his right in the top of the fourth inning, Witt immediately grimaced while landing hard on his right knee.
He kept the ball in the infield and prevented a run from scoring, but it forced him to exit the game early. Tyler Tolbert pinch-hit for Witt in the bottom half of the inning, ending his night.
Moments later, the Royals announced an update on his condition. "Bobby Witt Jr. exited tonight's game with right knee discomfort," the team wrote on X.
If Witt's injury forces him onto the injured list, it may be the final blow to Kansas City's season. Even if they win Thursday's game against St. Louis, they will still sit 14 games under .500.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Royals need to get hot soon, and stacking wins is much easier with Witt in the lineup than without. Manager Matt Quatraro will likely provide further updates on his condition after the game.
