Witt energizes Royals in Texas homecoming

ARLINGTON — To grasp what this week in Texas meant to Bobby Witt Jr., you’d have to return a 12 months, to when the Royals have been leaving Arlington after a three-game collection in Might 2022 in opposition to the Rangers.

The Royals had simply misplaced the collection, and Witt, then a rookie and within the first month of his profession, went 1-for-13 with seven strikeouts in entrance of a whole lot of his family and friends there to see the Colleyville, Texas, native play the staff his dad had pitched for within the Eighties and ‘90s.

Witt’s season OPS was .551 because the Royals loaded the bus headed for the airport, sure for Colorado as their remaining cease on a three-city highway journey. As that bus departed the recently-built Globe Life Area and drove by Globe Life Park, the stadium the place Witt grew up watching the Rangers play, a dialog Witt had with coaches and teammates resonated.

“I simply realized that, yeah, that is my job, but it surely’s only a sport,” Witt mentioned. “And I have to go have enjoyable and luxuriate in it.”

Quick ahead to 2023, when the Royals beat the Rangers 10-1 at Globe Life Area on Wednesday night time to keep away from a sweep and finish the .500 highway journey on a excessive notice as they head into Thursday’s off day. As soon as once more, Witt’s family and friends packed the stadium, and hype surrounded the Royals star shortstop.

However the outcomes have been so completely different.

Witt completed the collection 6-for-13 with two RBIs, three runs scored, a stroll, 4 stolen bases and a jaw-dropping catch in Tuesday’s loss. In his final at-bat on Tuesday, Witt sliced a ball foul — proper to his dad in a set. The primary foul ball Bobby Witt Sr. had ever caught as a fan got here from his son, and Witt Jr. dated and signed it: “Hit by Bobby Witt Jr. Caught by Bobby Witt Sr.”

“Only a actually cool factor,” Witt Jr. mentioned. “… Final 12 months, I attempted to take action a lot with household right here, associates right here. I wanted to step again and understand the place I used to be at. Now, I simply take that mindset into each day. I do know typically I get forward of myself. However I’ve to take a step again. The best degree of baseball, an ideal staff round me, I’m fortunate. So we’ve received to maintain pushing ahead.”

The 22-year-old was all smiles after Wednesday’s win. He paced the offense, which racked up 14 hits in opposition to the Rangers, by going 3-for-5 with two singles, a triple and three stolen bases — two within the seventh inning.

“He’s simply beginning to really feel like he’s received some timing, received some rhythm,” supervisor Matt Quatraro mentioned. “The stolen bases, he’s utilizing his athleticism. So the issues we all know he can do, he placed on show in these video games.”

Witt confirmed all of it: His hit device, his protection, his pace. On Wednesday, he turned the primary Royals participant age 22 or youthful to have a three-hit, three-steal sport.

“I’m completely happy he’s on our staff,” mentioned Royals starter Brad Keller, who earned the win with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball on Wednesday. “He’s actually a sport changer. He’s a full, dynamic participant throughout, and it’s enjoyable to observe.”

And Witt seems to be having enjoyable, too. Even because the Royals return house 4-9, it’s clear they’re sticking with their processes and see themselves turning a nook quickly. Kansas Metropolis scored 17 runs this collection and received manufacturing from up and down the lineup.

On Wednesday, Witt, MJ Melendez and Vinnie Pasquantino — the core of the Royals’ future — have been a mixed 6-for-13, with 5 RBIs (together with Melendez’s three) and one house run, Pasquantino’s 388-foot blast to proper discipline off Nathan Eovaldi.

Nicky Lopez drove in two on the backside of the order, and Franmil Reyes got here by in additional methods than one. The 265-pound slugger beat out an infield single within the first inning and scored from second on Lopez’s single, hustling down the third-base line.

Reyes received his hustle cue from Witt.

“He’s a participant to admire,” Reyes mentioned. “Each time you see gamers like that giving all of it on the sphere, all the flexibility he has, and the way he makes use of it — I’ve seen a whole lot of gamers who’re quick, however they don’t hustle like Bob. … Issues like that deliver much more to the game. He’s an unbelievable participant. Why not attempt to be like him typically?”