Now in his fifth big-league season, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has continued to deliver an all-around impact. After a slow start, Witt has heated up at the plate. Across 65 games, he now owns a .284 batting average, .359 on-base percentage, .822 OPS, nine home runs and 27 RBIs.
He has continued to play excellent defense and is a huge base-stealing threat with 23 steals that leads MLB. He has been caught just three times. Overall, the 25-year-old owns a 3.8 bWAR total that leads the American League.
Unfortunately, the rest of the team has struggled around him, and entering Sunday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City sat 13 games under .500 at 26-39, appearing destined to be sellers at the trade deadline.
To make matters worse, Witt left the game early due to an injury. After striking out in the top of the seventh inning, Witt was seen walking back to the dugout in some discomfort.
In the bottom half of the inning, backup infielder Michael Massey entered the game in his place, taking over at second base while Maikel Garcia stepped in at shortstop defensively.
Moments later, the Royals announced an update on Witt's condition.
"Bobby Witt Jr. exited today's game with right knee soreness," the team wrote on X.
If Witt is forced onto the injured list, it would be a crushing blow for Kansas City. He has appeared in every game so far this season, and without him the Royals' already weak offense would struggle to produce.
Kansas City is off Monday as the team travels back to Kauffman Stadium to open a home stand. His next chance to return to the lineup comes Tuesday in a series opener against the Texas Rangers.
But given how far out of the playoff picture Kansas City sits and how important Witt is to the team's future, they may play it safe with the two-time All-Star.
