Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has jersey commemorated in Baseball Hall of Fame
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has already earned a place in Cooperstown.
Witt, 23, was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame after becoming the first MLB player to record at least 20 home runs and 30 steals in each of his first two big-league seasons.
Witt set the mark against the Philadelphia Phillies last Friday. He hit a two-run homer off Phillies ace Aaron Nola at Citizens Bank Park. The Royals defeated the Phillies as part of a seven-game winning streak.
Now, Witt’s jersey will be immortalized in Cooperstown. It will be on display alongside several historic moments in MLB history.
“Just having my jersey with my name on it (in Cooperstown) is super surreal,” Witt said.
The Royals also authenticated Witt’s bat, jersey and home run ball from the record night. Witt shared his excitement with family members in Boston, as well as his teammates.
“They were excited and it was special to share that moment,” Witt said.
Witt hopes to go see his jersey on display in Cooperstown. For now, he is content to keep posting big numbers in his second MLB season.
The Royals have taken notice of his strong play. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said it was surreal to see Witt receive a top MLB honor.
“To be the first person in the history of the game to accomplish that, it’s pretty special,” Quatraro said. “To witness that firsthand is really cool for me and I know for a lot of people. You can’t take that for granted.”
Witt has faced lofty expectations since being selected second overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. He moved quickly through the minor leagues before his MLB debut last season.
In recent weeks, Witt has showcased his offensive potential. He leads the Royals in hits (122), home runs (20), RBIs (68) and stolen bases (34). He was named the Royals Player of the Month for July and turned in several defensive highlights.
“Bobby takes it in stride extremely well as you know,” Quatraro said. “That’s what makes him special.”
