KC Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. wins American League batting crown in stellar ’24 season

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is the best hitter in the American League.

On Sunday, the final day of the 2024 regular season for Major League Baseball, Witt won the AL batting title after a tight race with fellow superstars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Witt finished with a batting average of .332 across 161 games (he sat out Saturday’s game for rest ahead of the playoffs). He entered Sunday’s game with an eight-point lead over Guerrero.

“This is special,” Witt said. “You never think as a kid it would happen. ...

“I think it goes down to this team just being able to put me in good situations. That’s all I want to do, just try to get on and get the guys in and score guys. It’s been a great year.”

Witt held off Guerrero after going 1-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon. His is the fifth batting title in franchise history. He’s the third Royal to lead the majors in batting average, joining George Brett (1980) and Willie Wilson (1982).

This season, Witt set career marks across the board. He recorded 211 hits, fifth-most in single-season history for KC. Witt also notched his second consecutive 30-30 season. He’s the first major-league shortstop to reach the milestone.

Witt joins Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts as the only players to lead the league in batting average during a 30-30 season. Betts hit .346 during his MVP season with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

“I try to just control what I can,” Witt said. “And what I can control is my preparation — if I swing at good pitches and go up there and compete.”

Witt has made a strong case for the AL MVP, as well. He had 61 multi-hit games and set the Royals’ single-season record with 88 extra-base hits. According to FanGraphs, he has a 10.4 fWAR (wins above replacement) this season.

“When you stop and think about that ... it means you are doing a lot of good things at the plate,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Quatraro addressed the team directly and told Witt he had won the batting crown. The Royals are now preparing for an AL wild-card series against the Baltimore Orioles.

“We don’t take it for granted to watch him play every day,” Quatraro said. “He doesn’t play for the accolades but his teammates love him so much. I thought that was the right thing to do and honor him in front of his team.”

The Royals have needed Witt’s offense. Witt belted 32 home runs, 45 doubles and 11 triples, driving in 109 runs and piling up 373 total bases. He ranks inside the top-10 in each of those statistical categories.

“I’ve said this many times this year, he is scratching the surface of what he can actually do in this game,” Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt said. “His numbers are great, but I know he can do more.

“He knows he can do more and he is motivated to do more. What he has gone through this year will only help him get to those numbers and just continue to be the player we always believed he was going to be.”

The Royals clinched a playoff berth on Friday for the first time since 2015. Witt was just 15 years old when the organization last played a meaningful game in October.

Now, he will lead a new group of Royals into the postseason as KC opens an AL Wild-Card Series at Baltimore on Tuesday.

Witt has already exceeded expectations after signing a massive contract extension this past offseason. He made his first All-Star appearance and participated in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

“I wanted him to feel what it’s like to be in the playoffs,” Royals captain Salvador Perez said. “He is the best player that I ever played with and he deserves to be here.”

The Royals are excited for what could come next on the national stage, starting this week. The AL batting title is the latest accomplishment in Witt’s historic season.

“Bobby’s just so level-headed and humbled,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I think that’s the best way to encapsulate why he can compartmentalize things, and I think he is going to have to continue to do that.

“Now, there is no secret about who he is or how good he is. And, he is going to be a household name for a long time to come.”