The Kansas City Royals made their first postseason appearance in nine years after posting an 86-76 record in the regular season.
After entering the AL playoffs as a wild-card team, the Royals swept the series with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Royals then fell to the eventual AL Champion New York Yankees in the Division Series.
After winning just 56 games in 2023, the Royals improved dramatically, and star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. played a big part in that effort.
An MLB analyst and former World Series champion recently named Witt Jr. the best player in baseball.
“I don’t know if he has a ceiling, he’s the best player in our game,” Ron Darling said, via MLB Network.
What is Bobby Witt Jr.’s ceiling?
“I don’t know if he has a ceiling … he’s the best player in our game in every game.” – Ron Darling@Royals: |: @officialBBWAA: pic.twitter.com/1JerhFh5Rd
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 15, 2024
Witt made his debut with the Royals in 2022 and has improved every season.
Witt has played in 161 games this season and hit .332 with 211 hits, 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 125 runs scored, 31 stolen bases and a .977 OPS.
Darling notes that Witt has greatly improved his defensive game, and that was evidenced by the 24-year-old’s first Gold Glove award.
While Witt likely won’t win the AL MVP over Yankees shortstop Aaron Judge, he had one of the greatest seasons in MLB history.
The Royals have won the World Cup twice, most recently back in 2015.
Next season, Witt will try to help Kansas City win its first AL Central title since then, with hopes of a third World Series crown.
NEXT:
Royals sign veteran pitcher to three-year deal
