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Inviata - 13/07/2022 : 07:13:57
SURPRISE, https://www.justshopfalcons.com/grady-jarrett-jerseys Ariz. Bobby Witt Jr., MLB.coms top prospect, has reportedly made the Royals Opening Day roster, and it shouldnt be long before the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 Draft becomes Kansas Citys newest star at Kauffman Stadium, as the starter at third base.
But it wont be the first time Witt stars at the Royals home ballpark. During the pandemic-altered 2020 season, Kansas Citys alternate site was Kauffman Stadium. The prospects and other minor leaguers working on their games werent playing in front of fans, but they werent alone in the ballpark. The clubs television broadcast crew stayed home that season, camped out in their booth at Kauffman calling the games off monitors.
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And thats where Rex Hudler, the longtime Royals television color commentator, got an extended look at Witt. Even when he wasnt supposed to be watching.
It drove my producer crazy, Hudler told me at the Royals spring complex last week. Hes like, Hud, I need you! Stay with me! I couldnt help it, because theres Bobby Witt Jr. down there playing shortstop. This one day a guy hit a ball into left field, and he turns and runs all the way under it in left and catches it over his head and I went, You gotta be kidding me.
Hudler, who played 13 seasons in the majors, has seen plenty of young stars early in their careers during his time in the sport.
The speed, the baseball IQ, the love of the game and his tools? You put all that together, thats a young Robin Yount down there. He won a Gold Glove at short and in center, and this kid could, too, Hudler said. I mean, its awfully early, and thats big praise because thats a big, big name there. But thats the ceiling for him, in my opinion. Its exciting to watch.
I went down to Surprise, where the Royals split a spring facility with the Rangers, to meet Witt for myself. I asked him what the biggest difference was this year, as opposed to last years spring experience.
Well, we dont have to wear masks, so thats been something thats cool, he said with a laugh. But really, its just the feeling that theres a chance to maybe be part of the team, so Ive been taking it day by day and trying to get better each and every day and trying to learn from the guys. Its been a lot of fun. Theres a lot of energy and buzz in the air.
I asked his teammates and others around camp about the biggest difference they see in Witt, and almost everyone mentioned the extra muscle hes added. The baseball has always jumped off Witts bat, but now its traveling farther than ever, and thats saying something. Splitting his time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas (61 games) and Triple-A Omaha (63) last season, Witt finished with 33 homers, 35 doubles, 97 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .936 OPS, in his Age 21 season.
I feel like youre never going to get to that spot youre trying to be in, Witt said. You look at Mike Trout and hes improving every year, and thats kinda how I want to just get everything as a whole better. Thats how I went into the offseason, not looking at one specific thing, but also try to simplify things as much as po sible, knowing myself and what I need to do. And get stronger in the weight room, obviously. Thats about it.
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In 32 at https://www.justshopfalcons.com/vic-beasley-jerseys -bats this spring, Witt has a .406/.441/.781 slash line, with three homers, three doubles, two stolen bases, 11 runs scored, two walks and just three strikeouts.
I just really try to keep things as simple as po sible, pretty much just see ball, hit ball and just find a pitch in my zone and try to drive it, put the barrel on the ball, Witt said. Try to put together good at-bats and not chase pitches, have fun when Im up there, too. Just compete.
Third base might not be his long-term position, but its where hell be this season, with Adalberto Mondesi at shortstop and Nicky Lopez at second. Thats the setup if everyones healthy; Mondesi is wildly talented but has had trouble with that part.
Hes a good player, man, said Lopez, who hit .300 last year playing mostly shortstop with Mondesi on the IL. Hes really fun to watch. And hes an even better kid, too. Its easy to root for someone like him. I was telling one of our coaches how were all pulling for him because hes a good person. Its one thing if youre a good player but not a good person, yknow?
As the https://www.justshopfalcons.com/john-cominsky-jerseys son of Bobby Witt, the right-handed pitcher who competed for 16 seasons in the majors, the younger Witt knew how a clubhouse worked long before he was wearing a number himself. Thats part of the equation.
The talents pretty obvious when you watch him go about his busine s, Royals manager Mike Matheny said. The tools, the tools are there. Everybody knew that, so its how does he fit in? Weve watched him for a couple years, and he fits. He knows how to go about his busine s.
He took advantage of the privilege of growing up around this atmosphere and came in with ... the best way to describe it is a humble confidence. He goes about his busine s knowing and having faith in himself, but also having respect for guys who have been at this level. You have the opportunity to earn the respect of the guys who have been around, and thats something hes done exceptionally well.
Lopez, Matheny and Hudler have had the chance to watch Witt for a couple years now. Hes made a good impre sion on newcomers Amir Garrett, too. The Royals traded for Garrett shortly after the lockout ended.
Hes the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball for a reason, Garrett said. From what Ive seen from him, hes very athletic, very poised at the plate, smooth in the field. I told him, The last Rookie of the Year, I was really close with, so you might want to hang out with me for a bit.
Garrett laughed. He was teammates with Jonathan India in Cincinnati last season. India received 29 of the 30 first-place votes in the NL rookie voting after a season that included 21 homers, 12 stolen bases and a 3.9 bWAR. Garrett sees similarities.
Its the confidence, like he belongs, he said. India had that as a rookie, and I see that a lot in Bobby Witt Jr., too. Hes a big kid.
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A lot was expected from India, but the pre sure level wasnt quite like the expectations heaped on Witt heading into 2022.
Its hard. There are pre sures that he will have to go through that most young players wont have to go through, Matheny said. I think hes probably as prepared for those and has been trained, as well as hes wired to handle them, just about as well as any young player. But they still will be potential distractions. Thats just part of the position hes in right now. It isnt anything new. It happened to him as an amateur and its happened every step along the way. Itll be a little more https://www.justshopfalcons.com/jamal-anderson-jerseys amplified now, but we have good people watching over him and preparing him. Itll all come down to seeing if hes ready for what potential distractions will be out there. So far hes given us every indication that hell be able to handle it as well as anybody.
Witt, as mentioned, is the No. 1 overall prospect in the sport in the MLB.com rankings. Hes No. 1 over at Baseball Prospectus, too, and No. 3 at Baseball America. So, yeah, there are expectations.
Everyone writes stuff, but until its done, its just on paper, Witt told me with a grin. So thats just more motivation for me. Just continue trying to stay healthy through it all and just try to get better and quiet out that noise as much as po sible.
Hes done a great job of that so far. |
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