Bobby Witt Jr.: KC's $280 Million Star Shines in 2024
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00:00Same at the dish in the American League with Bobby Witt Jr. The $280 million man has been worth every single cent here for KC this year, especially in the month of July, batting 492 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, despite yesterday being a porous game on relative standards, just one for four with an RBI double in the opening frame for KC.
00:29A 7-1 price to win American League MVP. Aaron Judge still the hefty odds-on favorite at greater than a $3 number. But Craig, as I alluded to, an emerging star not just in the AL, in Kansas City, but in all of Major League Baseball. What should the baseball public know about Bobby Witt Jr.?
00:47Well, look, he plays a premium position at shortstop, and you can begin there. And I think that, Ben, as you look at the success of teams that have gone to the World Series and even potentially won the World Series, you almost have to have a great shortstop at that position. We've seen it so many times in the past. Trey Turner in Philadelphia, Seager in Texas. I mean, just look at the World Series winner. Tell me who they had at shortstop, and it's probably somebody who's a superstar.
01:14Witt, there's no question, is a superstar. We knew this from the time that he was a high school player all the way here. His father pitched in the big leagues for the Texas Rangers many years ago. I remember him pitching, actually. Sadly, to tell you how old I am, I remember Bobby Witt as a member of the Texas Rangers. I went to the All-Star Game. Everybody was cheering for him in the Home Run Derby. And so, look, it's very hard to beat that New York writer bias for any award.
01:39Even with a year that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has, Aaron Judge is mentioned. Otani's going to win? Nah, maybe it's Aaron Judge. Maybe it's Soto. So it's hard to beat New York when you're Kansas City in terms of popularity. But there's no doubt to me that Witt, probably, I would say, fair to say, Ben, top three player in Major League Baseball right now.