The Kansas City Royals were one of three teams out of the American League Central to make the postseason in 2024.
After missing the last eight seasons since winning the World Series in 2015, the Royals broke through in 2024.
A key player in the Royals’ 86-win season and playoff run was their star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
MLB Network analyst Tom Verducci made a big announcement about Witt Jr.’s 2024 season.
“This is one of the all-time great seasons at shortstop,” Verducci said.
“This is one of the all-time great seasons by a shortstop.”
Bobby Witt Jr. put up historic numbers @Royals: in 2024 and it put him on the AL MVP podium.👏 pic.twitter.com/q5Lpq7rvXv
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 22, 2024
Witt Jr. entered the league with the Royals in 2022 and has improved each season with the team.
In 2024, Witt Jr. played in 161 games and batted .332 with 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 31 stolen bases and a .977 OPS.
Verducci noted that Witt Jr. won the batting title when he had a 30/30 season with 30-plus home runs and 30-plus stolen bases, becoming only the third player ever to do so.
The Royals lost 106 games in 2023, but they were able to turn that around in 2024 and finish with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses.
Witt Jr. had career highs in games played, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS in 2024.
If Witt Jr. can continue to improve his game each season, he could see his name in the MVP conversation on a regular basis.
The Royals will look to put together another winning season in 2025 as they look to make the playoffs two years in a row for the first time since 2014 and 2015.
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Ron Darling Named “Best Player of the Game”
