In a game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals made history by becoming the first shortstop in major league baseball to achieve multiple seasons with at least 30 homers and 30 steals. Witt stole second base in the first inning of the game, marking his 30th stolen base of the season to accompany his 31 home runs.
Last season, Witt amassed 49 steals and reached the 30-homer mark with three games remaining. The 24-year-old, son of former pitcher Bobby Witt, now holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the majors, a feat only accomplished by six other players.
Bobby Witt Jr., selected as the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, signed an 11-year contract with the Royals in the offseason, valued at $288,777,777. This significant deal, the largest in Royals’ history, included a $7,777,777 signing bonus, paying homage to his jersey number 7, a favorite among Kansas City fans.
The Royals are positioned well in an AL wild-card spot, with a slim opportunity to catch up to Cleveland in the division. Witt’s outstanding performance has been instrumental in the team’s impressive turnaround from a 106-loss season last year. Leading the majors in hits, with a .332 average and 112 runs scored, Witt’s impact on the field has been notable.
Beyond his statistics, Witt’s infectious enthusiasm has revitalized the Royals, who have been striving to recapture their success from the 2014 and 2015 seasons when they clinched back-to-back AL Pennants and won the World Series after a 30-year drought. Under second-year manager Matt Quatraro, the team has made significant strides this season.
Notably, Witt’s emergence onto the national stage occurred during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. While Witt reached the finals, he narrowly lost to Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers in a thrilling match that came down to the final swings.
