By C. Trent Rosecrans, Stephen J. Nesbitt, and Sam Blum
One memorable night at Kauffman Stadium this summer, Bobby Witt Jr. stepped up to the plate in the ninth inning with a runner on first, one out, and his Kansas City Royals trailing by a run. What followed was pure magic. Witt smacked a game-tying triple, raced home on a walk-off grounder, and then graciously conducted an on-field interview, still catching his breath. With a grin on his face, he faced the roaring crowd and asked, “What do y’all think? Pretty fun, huh?”
Witt, the sensational 24-year-old All-Star shortstop, is having a season for the ages. He leads the majors with a .352 batting average, is recognized as both the fastest player and best defender in the game, and is currently neck-and-neck for the American League MVP title with Aaron Judge. Moreover, he has started at shortstop and batted second in every Royals game this season.
But what truly sets Witt apart is his historic performance at Kauffman Stadium. He is on track to become the first major leaguer in two decades to bat .400 at home. After another stellar 3-for-5 performance, Witt boasts a remarkable .405 average in 281 plate appearances at Kauffman Stadium this season.
Since the legendary Ted Williams, only a select few hitters have achieved a .400 home batting average in over 275 plate appearances. Witt is poised to join this elite group.
.400 home hitters since Ted Williams
|
Year
|
Player
|
Team
|
Home
|
Road
|
Diff
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024 |
Bobby Witt Jr. |
Royals |
.405 |
.299 |
.106 |
“He is as complete a player as you could ever imagine,” remarked Wade Boggs, a former .400 home hitter, during a recent phone call. Witt’s exceptional skills, including power and speed, have garnered praise from veterans like Jeff Cirillo and Rod Carew.
As Witt continues his pursuit of .400 at home, the unique dimensions of Kauffman Stadium play a crucial role. While the ballpark suppresses home runs, it offers ample space for hits. Witt’s projected home run total at a different park underscores the impact of his home field on his performance.
Despite the challenges of hitting on the road, Witt’s remarkable consistency and focus have propelled him to unprecedented success. His exceptional home/road splits reflect the comfort and familiarity players experience in their home ballpark.
