ESPN names Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. as the frontrunner for AL MVP.
Witt has had a pedestrian start at the plate, posting a batting average and on-base percentage in line with past seasons but with an isolated power number that’s down — or at least it will be until he goes on a power tear. So, why is Witt a strong early frontrunner in this category? He’s just really, really good — at everything. According to FanGraphs’ DEF metric, Witt has been the most valuable defender in the major
leagues. He is seventh in BSR, FanGraphs’ bottom-line baserunning metric. He’s a shortstop, with the positional value that goes with that designation.
Add it all up and of the 31.9 runs above replacement that Witt has put up — resulting in a 3.3 fWAR figure that is a more than a half-win better than any other AL player — only 8.2 of those runs come from batting. And his offensive numbers will almost certainly go up from here. This might be the year Witt lands his first AL MVP Award, though it would help matters if the struggling Royals mount some sort of playoff push over the months to come.
The Athletic’s latest power rankings put Kansas City at 25th, and do not predict things will get better anytime soon.
Record: 22-32
Last Power Ranking: 26In the next two months: The disappointment just lingers
When the Royals made the playoffs in 2024, things were looking up. Ownership was investing in the roster; Bobby Witt Jr. had established himself as a franchise cornerstone; Maikel García looked like an imminent second star, and hope was in the air.
But after last year’s 82-80 finish, this year’s squad has been, in a word, uninspiring.
MLB.com highlights Witt’s resurgence at the plate.
Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
For a moment there on Monday, it looked like Witt had authored yet another game-changing moment for the Royals. Alas, his go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth against the Yankees ended up as just a footnote in Kansas City’s loss. But it was also a part of Witt’s continued power surge; all eight of his home runs this season have come within his past 27 games.Witt owned a .254 average and a sub-.300 slugging percentage in mid-April. Now he is the AL leader in hits — something he did in 2024 and ’25 as well — and has raised his slug nearly 200 points, up to .481, over his past 36 contests. One of the most valuable defensive players in the sport, Witt’s all-around game added up to an MLB-best 3.3 FanGraphs WAR entering Monday’s game.
Sports Illustrated calls for more Daniel Lynch IV after the bullpen’s struggles and the southpaw’s excellence.
With the current state of Kansas City’s bullpen, he has not only emerged as the club’s most reliable reliever, but he could also be in line for more save opportunities moving forward.
Lynch has excelled in high-leverage situations all season long. He has received just two save opportunities this season and has already converted one of them.
At this point, Lynch has become Kansas City’s best high-leverage arm and should continue to see more opportunities to close out games.
What do you think of the Royals’ City Connect Nike Air Max 1?
The Royals are so bad that one site ponders trading Bobby Witt Jr. to the Athletics.
Kansas City added another bullpen arm on a minor-league deal, adding Genesis Cabrera on Tuesday.
FanGraphs’ latest power rankings put Kansas City at 27th, sandwiched between the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers.
Former Royals prospect David Sandlin is set to make his MLB debut after the Chicago White Sox placed starter Noah Schultz on the IL.
ESPN takes a look at the rise of one trading card game in MLB locker rooms.
Los Angeles Angels fans are the latest West Coast team to chant for selling their team during the game.
At the Enhanced Games, performance-enhancing drugs aren’t just allowed; they are necessary.
Johnson County Community College is the baseball powerhouse the Kansas City metro needs right now.
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. owes Big League Advance nearly $3.74 million as he tries to void an agreement to pay the firm 10% of his future MLB earnings.
Arizona Complex League games can lead to some high-scoring affairs, but a meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants squads was different.
Former Atlanta Braves player Bob Horner passed away at age 68.
Shinnosuke Abe resigned as manager of the Yomiuri Giants after being arrested for the alleged assault of his daughter.
Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene is slowly returning from elbow surgery.
Griffin Jax exits early from his start for the Tampa Bay Rays after a line drive nailed him in the back.
The Rays also added veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to the bullpen.
Here is what fans need to know ahead of the NCAA baseball regionals.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes plays in the team’s first voluntary workout of the offseason.
The NCAA denied a petition to reinstate former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility. The athlete admitted to betting on sports, including Texas Tech, while he was a freshman.
A lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL is heading to trial after the Supreme Court declined to intervene.
Tech N9ne closes out his 2026 tour at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City.
Just why have World Cup tickets become so expensive, and how can locals find more reasonable options?
Tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs at all University of Missouri campuses will increase this coming fall.
Today’s song of the day is Neon Odyssey by The Midnight.
