CROWN JEWEL
When Royals director of hitting performance Alec Zumwalt first saw Bobby Witt Jr. in person, what stood out to him immediately was his personality.
Whether Witt was in the lineup or slotted in at DH or taking a day off, he was always smiling. There was an easygoing, exciting presence to Witt that was infectious to everyone watching him and playing with him.
But when Zumwalt got more hands-on with Kansas City’s 2019 first-round pick, he quickly realized the immense talent of the high school shortstop from Colleyville, Texas.
“The kid’s skill set is amazing,” Zumwalt said. “I have told a lot of people this, but right from the start the thing that stood out to me was how he could simplify what was so hard for most people—and most hitters.
“His cognitive ability to simplify his thoughts and simplify his mechanics and simplify his approach, it’s just so, so unique.”
Witt’s first pro season was limited to 37 games in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019, but after losing the 2020 minor league season to the pandemic, he wasted no time getting back on track.
After standing out in big league spring training, Witt was assigned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he hit .295/.369/.570 with 16 home runs, 11 doubles
