Even in a down year, Bobby Witt Jr. is among the best in baseball.
The Royals shortstop finished fourth in American League MVP voting in results released Thursday, behind winner Aaron Judge of the Yankees.
Witt finished second to Judge last year. Bobby hit .295/.351/.502 with 23 home runs and 38 steals, while leading the American League in hits (184) and doubles (47). He also led all American League players in Outs Above Average, winning his second Gold Glove Award and his first Platinum Glove Award. Bobby has also taken home a Silver Slugger Award this offseason, and on Thursday was named second-team All-MLB. Bobby was third in the American League in fWAR (8.0) and rWAR (7.1)
Judge took home his second consecutive MVP award and third overall in a very close race over Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Judge led all American League players in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688), runs scored (137), rWAR (9.7), and fWAR (10.1). Raleigh edged Judge in home runs 60 to 53, and in RBI 125 to 114. In the Kansas City chapter, Jaylon Thompson of the Star voted for Cal Raleigh with Witt third, and Joe Posnanski of JoeBlogs voted for Judge with Witt fourth.
Maikel Garcia also received four down-ballot votes to finish 15th in voting. The third baseman was tenth in the league in fWAR with 5.8, hitting .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 steals, earning his first All-Star appearance and first Gold Glove.
In the National League, Shohei Ohtani unanimously won MVP, the fourth time he has won the award. In his second year with the Dodgers, he hit .282/.392/.622 with 55 home runs and 10 RBI, and he also pitched 47 innings with a 2.87 ERA.
