KC Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. leaves spring game vs. Mariners after being hit by pitch
Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. is dealing with a left forearm contusion.
Witt was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s spring training game against the Seattle Mariners. In the fifth inning, Witt was struck by a 95-mph sinker from Mariners reliever Andres Munoz. The Royals immediately took Witt out of the game for further evaluation.
After the game, Witt underwent additional testing. The Royals announced that X-ray results were negative for a fracture.
Witt will be reevaluated Thursday morning.
“He said initially that he lost feeling in his fingers but he said it was coming back,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters in Peoria, Arizona.
The Royals inserted infield prospect Tyler Tolbert in Witt’s place. He hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning as the Royals defeated the Mariners 7-6 at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Witt is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign. He finished second in American League MVP voting after leading the league in batting average (.332) and hits (211). Witt earned his first All-Star selection and won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award.
KC outfielder Nelson Velázquez also left the game on Wednesday. Quatraro said that Velázquez was dealing with cramps.
The Royals will be back in action on Thursday against the San Diego Padres, with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. Central at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 7:44 PM.
