Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. received encouraging news after being hit on the left forearm by a 96 mph fastball on Wednesday. According to ESPN Insider Jeff Passan, Witt did not suffer a broken bone, per sources. While there is no set timetable for his return, he is not expected to be out for an extended period.
The Best Ability Is Availability
Witt is one of the most durable players in the league, playing at least 150 games in each of his first three MLB seasons. Last season, he played in 161 of 162 games, so avoiding what seemed like a major injury early in spring training is a good sign for Witt and the Royals.
“It was scary in the moment,” Witt reflected, “but anytime that happens, it’s always scary. You never know what the results are going to be. But if it was October, April, or March 27, I’d be good.”
After the Royals posted on X that Witt was diagnosed with a forearm contusion and did not sustain a fracture, he tweeted a thumbs-up emoji, suggesting he was feeling optimistic after the game.
— Bobby Witt Jr (@BwittJr) March 13, 2025
Witt is coming off a career year in which he posted a 9.4 WAR, second in the majors only behind the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (10.8). He was selected to his first All-Star Game, won the American League batting title with a .332 average, led the league in hits (211), and took home both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award. He also finished second in American League MVP voting, behind Judge. Needless to say, his presence in the Royals’ lineup is crucial for Kansas City.
The AL MVP runner-up posted career highs across the board in 2024, hitting 32 home runs, 45 doubles, and 11 triples (tying his career high). Witt also finished the year with 109 RBIs, a .389 OBP, and a .977 OPS. His performance helped lead the Royals to an 86-76 record and their first playoff appearance since 2015.
Kansas City is looking to make the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since their back-to-back World Series runs in 2014-2015, and keeping Witt healthy will be a key factor. The Tigers surprised MLB fans and analysts with their second place finish in the AL Central in 2024 and continued to surprise when they swept the Baltimore Orioles in two games in the American League Wild Card Round.
Following their Wild Card win, the Tigers performed admirably in the American League Divisional Series, eventually falling to the New York Yankees in four games. A return to the postseason would be a welcome sight for Tigers fans, and Witt will have to follow his stellar year with a similar performance to get them there.