The Kansas City Royals were dealt a potential blow Wednesday when star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was forced to leave a game after being hit by a pitch on the left forearm.
Witt is undergoing further evaluation, per a team announcement.
Bobby Witt Jr. left today’s game after being hit in the left forearm. He will undergo further evaluation.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 12, 2025
The 2024 American League MVP runner-up was replaced by pinch runner Tyler Tolbert after being hit by the 96-mph fastball from Seattle Mariners pitcher Andres Muñoz. He immediately fell to the ground in pain, holding his left hand.
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An extended absence for Witt would damage the Royals’ chances of repeating or exceeding their surprise success in 2024. Kansas City went 86-76, second place in the AL Central last season. They upset the favored Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the playoffs before losing a four-game AL Division Series to the New York Yankees.
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Witt, 24, is a former first-round draft pick (second overall) in 2019 who has become the centerpiece of the Royals’ revival. After losing 106 games in 2023, Kansas City returned to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.
Witt appeared in 161 games in 2024, leading MLB with a .332 batting average and 211 hits while clubbing 32 home runs and 109 RBIs.
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In addition to his prolific offense, Witt claimed the AL Gold Glove Award at shortstop and racked up 9.4 Wins Above Replacement.
Witt was also chosen as the AL Player of the Month for July 2024.
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Among their projected 26-man roster, Maikel Garcia and Jonathan India are the top candidates to play shortstop if Witt misses time.
Garcia, 25, slashed .231/.281/.332 last year. He’s seen the majority of his career starts at third base, but has also made 16 starts at shortstop over the last three seasons.
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India, 28, was acquired by the Royals from the Reds along with outfielder Joey Wiemer in November in the trade that sent pitcher Brady Singer to Cincinnati. A third baseman and shortstop in college, India has played exclusively at second base at the major league level.
While the Royals were expected to slot India in at designated hitter, they are fairly thin at shortstop at the minor league levels.
Tolbert, 27, is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he’s played only one game at shortstop above the Double-A level. Cam Devanney, 27, spent last season as the primary shortstop with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, where he slashed .254/.336/.445. Daniel Vazquez, 21, has never played above A-ball.
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