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Bobby Witt Sr. worked 2,621 2/3 professional innings before his first World Series appearance. He arrived in 2001, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Witt never pitched again. He was 37 years old, had four children at home (three daughters and a son, his namesake) and retired champion.
Bobby Witt Jr. was 16 months old then, too young to have shared the disappointment his father must have felt after all those fruitless seasons. In his own major league career, with the Kansas City Royals, Witt has endured more than 200 losses in two last-place seasons. The World Series seems painfully far away.
However, on Monday, Witt, 23, committed to the Royals at least through 2030. His new contract guarantees him $288.7 million over 11 years, although he will have buyout clauses four years in a row starting in the seventh season. If he declines all of them, the Royals could exercise a three-year option that would keep Witt through 2037 for $377.7 million.
It’s complicated, then, not a complete promise that one of baseball’s most dynamic talents will age in Royals blue. But seven years, especially for a player who gets so much value out of his legs, probably covers most of Witt’s prime. His faith in the Royals sends a strong message about the direction of the franchise.
“The energy in Kansas City, especially today with this news, is off the charts,” said former infielder and longtime Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler. “It’s really a breath of fresh air to have a talent like Junior and realize that he also sees another World Series here, so he went ahead and committed to us.”
Witt was a sensation in 2023, becoming the first player in Royals history with 30 home runs and 30 steals in a season. Only one player in the majors could match Witt in both stolen bases (49) and extra-base hits (69): Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., the unanimous National League Most Valuable Player, and his defense at shortstop improved markedly. since his 2022 rookie season.
His on-base percentage, .319, was one point below the major league average, consistent with the Royals’ aggressive approach. Otherwise, Witt does everything.
“He’s a generational type player,” Hudler said. “He hits for power, he hits for average, he has a great arm, his fielding is off the charts. And he had never seen speed like that before. His feet never touch the ground, they are light. Baseball IQ is what separates him from these other great, talented young players coming up. “He already knows how to play.”
Witt’s contract follows seven free agent deals with the Royals totaling $109.5 million, for starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, relievers Will Smith and Chris Stratton, outfielder Hunter Renfroe, second baseman Adam Frazier and utilityman Garrett Hampson. The increased spending comes at a strategic time for Kansas City owner John Sherman.
For competitive balance tax purposes, the Royals spent $119.4 million on their 40-man roster last season. That ranked 26th in the majors, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, which isn’t exactly a show of faith toward a community that will be asked to help finance a stadium to replace Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals’ ballpark is a gem, but only five current Major League Baseball venues were standing when it opened in 1973: Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium and the doomed Oakland Coliseum. The team has a Feb. 29 deadline to reveal the site location for a proposed new park, ahead of an April 2 ballot measure in Jackson County, Missouri, on extending a stadium sales tax. to help the Royals and the Chiefs.
The Chiefs, of course, are the reigning power in the NFL. But the Royals, despite seven straight losing seasons, remain a hopeful symbol in a league without a salary cap. Although 13 different franchises have won the World Series in the last 20 years, Kansas City is the only one in a so-called small market.
The Royals, who had lost the World Series to the Giants in 2014, won it against the Mets in 2015. In the weak American Central League, their path back to the postseason may be easier than most.
“They’re playing in a division right now that, let’s be honest, isn’t very good,” said Denny Matthews, a Hall of Fame broadcaster who has called Royals games since the franchise was founded in 1969. “There’s no great power.” in the American League Central, not even close. Then all you have to do is beat four other teams.
“That is quite feasible. You can start dreaming about it a little. The pieces fit together and suddenly there you are.”
The Royals hoped not to spend so much time between eras of discord. But their plan to build with first-round college pitchers failed, and last season they used veterans Jordan Lyles and Zack Greinke for 320 innings. The duo combined to go 8-32 with a 5.74 ERA.
Cole Ragans, however, was outstanding in 12 starts after a trade from Texas for Aroldis Chapman, and Lugo and Wacha combined for a 3.40 ERA in 280 innings for San Diego. Smith and Stratton are coming off a championship with the Rangers. There is reason for cautious optimism in the short term and a determined leader in the long term.
So it’s safe to buy that Bobby Witt Jr. jersey. And if you squint, a World Series patch might appear on the sleeve one day, too.
“How far will it go?” Matthews said. “Nobody knows; he doesn’t know. But he works hard and wants to be better. It’ll be fun to watch.”
GO DEEPER
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(Top photo by Bobby Witt Jr.: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)