Hot hitting continues in Wichita for Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals’ top prospect
The possible future of the Kansas City Royals has been on full display this week in Wichita at Riverfront Stadium.
The Royals’ Double-A farm team, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, are in town for a six-game series against the Wichita Wind Surge, which means so is the organization’s most-prized prospect: shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt Jr. is currently shredding minor-league pitching and appears to be on the fast track for a promotion to Triple-A. He has posted impressive stats: a .350 batting average, .418 on-base percentage and .626 slugging percentage in 31 games since June 1. In Double-A Central, he is tied for third in home runs (13) and second in RBIs (40).
The 21-year-old, who is ranked as the No. 7 prospect in minor league baseball by MLB.com, hasn’t disappointed in Wichita, as he reached base in seven of his 11 plate appearances in his first two games against the Wind Surge this week.
“I still think I can improve on all aspects of my game and that’s what I’m going to keep doing,” Witt Jr. told Wichita media this week. “It’s a long season, so I want to steadily get better and better each and every day and just keep working. That’s what I’m going to continually do. This year I’ve learned to just be myself, not try to do too much and just keep things simple.”
After playing in Friday’s 7:05 p.m. game in Wichita, Witt Jr. and his teammate, Nick Pratto, another top Royals’ prospect who was their first-round pick in the 2017 draft, will travel to Denver to play in the Futures Game at Coors Field on Sunday as part of MLB All-Star weekend.
Witt Jr. said he believes his experience at last year’s alternate site has played a role in his strong second professional season since being drafted No. 2 overall out of high school in the 2019 draft.
“It’s always a privilege to be around the big league guys,” Witt Jr. said. “I learned a lot. Just getting into a good routine and learn from those guys. It was awesome to be around them. I took that into spring training and then into here and that’s what I’m going to keep doing, just keep going.”
Witt Jr. said he has already formed a bond with Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield, who could be his double-play partner in the big leagues.
“Whit took me under his wing and was really there for me if I had any questions,” Witt Jr. said. “He’s always texting me, asking me how I’m doing and things like that. It’s really cool to have that comfort and hopefully one day we’ll play with each other.”
When asked if he’s expecting a call-up to Triple-A soon, Witt Jr. stressed that decision is out of his control and he’s just focused on controlling what he can control.
It’s possible Wichita will be his final stop as a Double-A player.
“I’m just going to worry about our team here,” Wit Jr. said of the Naturals, who are 30-25 and tied for first place in Double-A Central with the Wind Surge. “We’re trying to win each and every game out here and I’m trying to be the best teammate I can be. I just have to keep doing me. I’m not really focused on (outside distractions). I just want to be the best Bobby Witt Jr. I can possibly be and keep going each and every day with an open mindset and keep learning and growing as a player and having fun.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
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