Tuesday night marked another historic milestone for Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., continuing his rise as one of the brightest young stars in Major League Baseball.
Facing Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize, Witt took a walk in the first inning and then promptly stole second base, registering his 30th stolen base of the season. With that, Witt joined exclusive company, becoming the first shortstop in MLB history to achieve multiple 30-homer, 30-stolen base seasons.
Witt’s second 30-30 campaign places him in a league of his own. No other shortstop has recorded multiple 30-30 seasons, though Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is on the verge of joining him, needing just three more steals to reach the mark.
This achievement is made even more significant when considering how rare 30-30 seasons are for shortstops. Witt is one of only six shortstops in the history of the game to post a single 30-30 season.
He first made Royals history in 2023 by becoming the franchise’s first player to achieve this feat, tallying 30 home runs and swiping an impressive 49 bases.
Witt is also just the eighth player ever to log back-to-back 30-30 seasons, joining an elite group that includes Ryan Braun, Alfonso Soriano, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Barry Bonds, Ron Gant, Bobby Bonds, and Willie Mays.
This rare accomplishment highlights Witt’s unique blend of power and speed, a combination that’s redefining the modern shortstop position.
A Standout 2024 Season
Bobby Witt Jr.’s performance in 2024 has elevated his status even further, as he leads the Royals in their push for their first postseason appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. The 24-year-old has taken his game to another level, boasting a .332 batting average, .384 on-base percentage, and a .600 slugging percentage as of Tuesday night.
Witt’s consistency at the plate has been remarkable, and his ability to impact the game in so many ways makes him one of baseball’s most dynamic talents.
On Monday night, Witt added to his incredible season by crushing a grand slam for his 32nd home run of the year, part of a multi-hit night that also included an infield single—his Majors-leading 200th hit of the season. That hit placed him in Royals lore, as it marked just the ninth 200-hit season in franchise history.
Witt’s 200 hits also make him the most prolific primary shortstop (playing at least 50% of games at shortstop) in terms of hits since Derek Jeter’s 216-hit season in 2012. Leading all of baseball in hits, batting average, and runs (122), Witt is positioning himself for an extraordinary achievement.
Should he finish the season at the top of all three categories, he would become just the fifth player since 1900 to do so, joining the legendary ranks of Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, and Rod Carew.
A New Standard at Shortstop
Witt’s rise to prominence and his historic achievements underscore the changing landscape of baseball. Traditionally, shortstops have been seen as defensive anchors with modest offensive production, but Witt’s combination of elite power, speed, and contact skills is setting a new standard for the position.
He’s not just a cornerstone for the Kansas City Royals’ future, but a player whose name will be mentioned among baseball’s elite for years to come.
As the Royals fight for a playoff berth, Bobby Witt Jr. continues to captivate fans with his all-around brilliance. His back-to-back 30-30 seasons are just one of many milestones he’s likely to achieve in what’s shaping up to be a remarkable career.
Make sure to come back for more analysis on everything sports at ViralSportsNews.net . Also, give us a follow on NewsBreak .
The post Kansas City Royals Star Bobby Witt Jr. Makes Major History appeared first on Viral Sports News .
Comments / 0