You’d want to call Bobby Witt Jr. a ninja after this one! Thursday’s game against the Seattle Mariners might not have begun in his favor, but by the end, he owned the night. Before the seventh inning, two strikeouts and a flyout put the Royals in a difficult spot. But during the seventh, Witt Jr. knew the drill to change the odds. All he needed was four pitches to give the Kansas City Royals the edge to notch a 3-4 win over the Mariners.
That win eventually split the four-game series. When Vinnie Pasquantino hit a ground ball across the right infield, Witt Jr. was on second while Jonathan India was on third. India managed to score cleanly and put the team ahead by a run.
On the other hand, before Witt Jr. made it to third, Dominic Canzone got to the ball in right field. Still, that didn’t stop the shortstop; he ran like a ninja, and his slide was miraculous.
Canzone’s throw beats Witt Jr. by nearly three steps. Meanwhile, Cal Raleigh—the Mariners’ star catcher—smoothly picked the ball up right in front of the plate. He was just slightly off to the side, but Ninja Witt Jr. was clearly out.
Just last season, the star shortstop earned an All-Star, a Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove title to his name. Be it at the plate or on the base, Witt Jr. has never failed to deliver his best. It’s just some of his tricks. When he was asked about it, he said, “Those are the ones that just kind of happen.” his secret is to do whatever it takes to avoid the tag. That’s how he outsmarted Raleigh.
“He’s extremely talented; we all know that.” Royals skipper Matt Quatraro praised Witt Jr. in real time. During the last seconds, Witt Jr. raised his arm high in the air, which let Cal Raleigh’s glove go past him. Then he finally twisted as he made it to the home plate. The umpire, standing right in front of him, called him safe.
For the record, Witt Jr.’s 24 stolen bases record ranks second in the American League. Beyond his record, it’s his sharp instincts and unshakable drive that have made all the difference. That’s also primarily why he’s tied the long-standing record in the Royals’ history.
Bobby Witt Jr. tied a historic record in the Royals’ history
During a close 3-2 win against the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals’ star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. went 2-for-2 and tied a massive record in the Royals’ franchise history.
With his stunning slide and remarkable overall performance, he extended his 22-game road hit streak. That very streak matched the record that was once set by Hal McRae (1982-1983). He just needs one more outing to stand alone at the top in the franchise’s history.
Witt Jr. has established himself as one of the best players in the league at just the age of 25. His batting average sits at .290 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs. Across any lineup in the league, he arguably has the best power-speed threat with his 24 stolen bases.
And he did that. Rightfully so, manager Quartraro admitted it, too. “He rises to the occasion.” He said after Thursday night’s matchup against the Seattle Mariners.
For the Royals overall, it hasn’t been a perfect season. With a 41-47 record, they have fallen below expectations at this stretch of the season. Their next outing is a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Let’s see if we get to see more from the bag of tricks of Witt Jr.
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