Bobby Witt Jr. hits first home run of 2025. It wasn’t even his best highlight
Bobby Witt Jr. was saddled with a bit of tough luck to begin the 2025 campaign.
In recent games, the Kansas City Royals star shortstop has stung the baseball at the plate. It just so happened that it landed at the feet of opposing defenders.
On Saturday, Witt made sure no one could impede his progress. In the sixth inning, Witt hit a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano.
Witt worked a six-pitch at-bat against Sugano. He grooved a 76.3 mph curveball over the left-field wall at Kauffman Stadium. It was his first homer of the 2025 season as it traveled 399 feet into the KC jet stream.
“It was a curveball up in the zone,” Witt said. “So yeah, just got to get it through the wind a little bit.”
But the Royals couldn’t produce more offense. Baltimore (4-5) scored eight runs on 12 hits to even the weekend series in the 2024 AL Wild Card rematch. The Royals fell 8-1.
Sugano limited the Royals (3-5) all afternoon. The 35-year-old rookie allowed one earned run and struck out four batters in 5 ⅓ innings. The Royals struggled to pick up his sweeper and slider combination.
“He was unpredictable,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Had a lot of good movement, late movement and used both sides of the plate. Kept the ball down, got ahead and used all his off-speed stuff. He pitched extremely well.”
The Royals were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, a key area from Friday’s win. The club left seven men on base.
Baltimore did most of its damage in the sixth inning. The Orioles scored four runs that were charged to Michael Wacha and Sam Long.
“I know those guys don’t like giving up our runs or anything like that,” Wacha said. “Looking back, it’s tough to swallow. We trust those guys down in the pen to come and get out of our jam every time there for sure.”
Wacha allowed four earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings. Long struggled in his relief appearance as he surrendered three hits, two earned runs and one walk.
“I felt like I made some good pitches,” Long said. “They just found the outfield or they found their way through the infield. It’s going to happen and the game is going to punch you in the mouth sometimes.”
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Bobby Witt Jr. flashes Gold Glove with diving stop
In the fourth inning, Witt showed why he is a defensive wizard at shortstop. Witt robbed Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad of a base hit with a diving catch.
“I didn’t think he had any chance,” Quatraro said. “It was a slicing line drive ... (that) looked like it was working its way away from him. But he had great reactions. Made a great play to double him up.”
Witt broke to his right and dove toward left field. He hauled in the screaming line drive and threw to second baseman Maikel Garcia to generate an inning-ending double play.
“Just trying to take away as many hits as possible,” Witt said. “If you are not getting hits, you are trying to take them away. That’s what you are trying to do at all times. Just really trying to be in the right position for any play made and just trying to help out the pitchers.”
Last season, Witt won his first Gold Glove after producing a .974 fielding percentage and 361 assists.
What’s next: The Royals conclude their weekend series against the Orioles. Left-handed starter Kris Bubic will make his second start against lefty Cade Povich on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published April 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
