The Kansas City Royals have fallen short of expectations to say the least this past season. Things didn’t go particularly well for a team that expected to improve on 2021’s record of 74-88. That was a 45.7% win rate, then following up with a 40% win rate in 2022. Kansas City provided little competition in the standings of the AL Central Division.
Although their season had an unsatisfying conclusion, normal team headlines turned into star player headlines through this forgettable season. Most notable, the staggering Bobby Witt Jr.
In year one on the job Witt broke camp with the big-league team and never looked back on his way to the show. Witt has been one of baseball’s very best rookies throughout the 2022 season. His unnatural combination of raw power, blazing speed and a knack for making extravagant highlight plays has made him a must-watch player, even as a member of a franchise that doesn’t exactly look to track that same designation.
Witt led all rookies in stolen bases (30), RBIs (runs batted in) (80) and extra-base hits (57), while finishing second in doubles (31), triples (six), slugging percentage (.428) and hits (150). His 20 home runs were also third-most among all rookies.
Witt’s 30 stolen bases came late in the season. The Royals said he’s only the third American League rookie ever to finish with 50 extra-base hits and 30 stolen bases.
He is also the fifth rookie in Major League Baseball history to have 30 stolen bases and 20 home runs in his first season. He joins Tommie Agee (1966 Chicago White Sox), Devon White (1987 Los Angeles Angels) and Mike Trout (2012 Los Angeles Angels).
He should be your 2022 American League Rookie of the Year.
Now, the 2022 rookie class is stacked. There is no reasonable conversation of who deserves this award without looking at Seattle Mariners outfielder, Julio Rodriguez.
Rodriguez played a pivotal role for Seattle’s first playoff team since he was nine months old. He led qualified rookies in OPS (on base percentage), posting the only 25-25 season among rookies and put on a show at this year’s Home Run Derby in Dodger Stadium.
The one difference that is visibly notable is the tag hanging from Witt’s mullet, reading “franchise savior”.
“Play my game, not try to do too much or too little,” Witt told MLB Network. “There’s only so much I can do to help, so I have to do my part and my job. Go out there each and every day, stay healthy and try to keep doing my thing. I know I’m capable of playing this game at this level, so I’m going out there every day with a winning mindset and have fun.”
Witt has been the more impressive talent to watch this season. The versatility of being able to shift all around the infield, playing defense at a high level no matter where he’s positioned. The anomaly of speed and power threat combo shows to be deadly. We haven’t seen consistent defense from Rodriguez, coming off of a non climatic performance in the wild card and divisional round in the playoffs.
Now, it’s unlikely that Kansas City will get to the playoffs anytime soon. But the respectable leadership position Witt has filled on this Royals roster speaks louder than any piece of hardware over his fireplace at the end of the day. The relationships he has built with his fellow young teammates create a sense of respect and passion inside the fans looking up to him.
Commentary: Bobby Witt Jr. deserves AL Rookie of the Year
The Kansas City Royals have fallen short of expectations to say the least this past season. Things didn’t go particularly well for a team that expected to improve on 2021’s record of 74-88. That was a 45.7% win rate, then following up with a 40% win rate in 2022. Kansas City provided little competition in the standings of the AL Central Division.
Although their season had an unsatisfying conclusion, normal team headlines turned into star player headlines through this forgettable season. Most notable, the staggering Bobby Witt Jr.
In year one on the job Witt broke camp with the big-league team and never looked back on his way to the show. Witt has been one of baseball’s very best rookies throughout the 2022 season. His unnatural combination of raw power, blazing speed and a knack for making extravagant highlight plays has made him a must-watch player, even as a member of a franchise that doesn’t exactly look to track that same designation.
Witt led all rookies in stolen bases (30), RBIs (runs batted in) (80) and extra-base hits (57), while finishing second in doubles (31), triples (six), slugging percentage (.428) and hits (150). His 20 home runs were also third-most among all rookies.
Witt’s 30 stolen bases came late in the season. The Royals said he’s only the third American League rookie ever to finish with 50 extra-base hits and 30 stolen bases.
He is also the fifth rookie in Major League Baseball history to have 30 stolen bases and 20 home runs in his first season. He joins Tommie Agee (1966 Chicago White Sox), Devon White (1987 Los Angeles Angels) and Mike Trout (2012 Los Angeles Angels).
He should be your 2022 American League Rookie of the Year.
Now, the 2022 rookie class is stacked. There is no reasonable conversation of who deserves this award without looking at Seattle Mariners outfielder, Julio Rodriguez.
Rodriguez played a pivotal role for Seattle’s first playoff team since he was nine months old. He led qualified rookies in OPS (on base percentage), posting the only 25-25 season among rookies and put on a show at this year’s Home Run Derby in Dodger Stadium.
The one difference that is visibly notable is the tag hanging from Witt’s mullet, reading “franchise savior”.
“Play my game, not try to do too much or too little,” Witt told MLB Network. “There’s only so much I can do to help, so I have to do my part and my job. Go out there each and every day, stay healthy and try to keep doing my thing. I know I’m capable of playing this game at this level, so I’m going out there every day with a winning mindset and have fun.”
Witt has been the more impressive talent to watch this season. The versatility of being able to shift all around the infield, playing defense at a high level no matter where he’s positioned. The anomaly of speed and power threat combo shows to be deadly. We haven’t seen consistent defense from Rodriguez, coming off of a non climatic performance in the wild card and divisional round in the playoffs.
Now, it’s unlikely that Kansas City will get to the playoffs anytime soon. But the respectable leadership position Witt has filled on this Royals roster speaks louder than any piece of hardware over his fireplace at the end of the day. The relationships he has built with his fellow young teammates create a sense of respect and passion inside the fans looking up to him.