Nowhere in Main League Baseball are the hopes of a franchise resting on a single participant greater than with the Kansas Metropolis Royals and 23-year-old shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt is producing buzz as a attainable American League MVP candidate headed into his third full season within the majors.
Witt had a breakout season in 2023 and completed seventh in American League MVP voting after he posted a .276 batting common with 177 hits, 30 residence runs, 96 RBI, 49 stolen bases and led the majors with 11 triples.
The Royals responded by signing Witt to the most important contract in franchise historical past in February with an 11-year, $288.5 million deal. Witt responded by reporting to coaching camp one week early alongside a gaggle of different Royals veterans.
The American League MVP race appears huge open with Shohei Ohtani now within the Nationwide League with the Los Angeles Dodgers — Ohtani gained the award two of the final three years. Witt’s odds of successful American League MVP had been at +2000 on Thursday, with New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Choose the favourite at +550 odds.
One factor that has escaped Witt early in his profession is any semblance of crew success. The Royals have completed in final place within the American League Central every of his first two seasons, going a dismal 56-106 in 2023. Kansas Metropolis hasn’t had a successful file since going 95-67 in 2015 on the best way to successful the World Collection.
