Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. finishes 2nd in 2024 AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge
Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. entered the 2024 season with high expectations. The 24-year-old shortstop had just signed a 14-year contract extension — the largest deal in franchise history.
Witt justified the massive contract with a historic season. He led Major League Baseball with a .332 batting average and 211 hits, finishing the year with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs as the Royals returned to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
On Thursday, Witt was recognized once again for his on-field contributions: He finished second in the American League MVP voting to New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, as announced on MLB Network.
Witt tallied 270 points among Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) voters. He received a unanimous 30 second-place votes. Judge finished with 420 points, including all 30 first-place votes, en route to his second MVP.
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Yankees outfielder Juan Soto finished third with 221 points. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (208) and Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (184) rounded out the top five.
The BBWAA tabulates the votes with first place worth 14 points, second place worth 10 and the remainder of the ballot spots in descending order.
Witt had a compelling case for MVP. He became the first big-league shortstop to record multiple 30-30 seasons and was the third Royal to lead the majors in batting average.
He became a first-time All-Star and finished second in the Home Run Derby. Defensively, he had a 10.4 fWAR, the fifth-best mark by a shortstop.
Witt was AL Player of the Month in July and also won an AL Gold Glove and Slugger Silver Slugger. He, captain Salvador Perez and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino will continue to anchor the Royals’ lineup in 2025.
