KC Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. found inspiration in a certain NY Yankees legend

As Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. went through his final preparations ahead of the American League Division Series that starts Saturday evening in New York, he found himself watching highlights of a childhood hero.

Witt went down a rabbit hole of Derek Jeter highlights, and the memories came rushing back. As much as anything or anyone else, it was the New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame shortstop who inspired Witt to start playing baseball as a kid.

Despite growing up as a Boston Red Sox fan — not to mention the son of a major-leaguer — Witt always found himself watching Jeter make plays in the Big Apple.

Now it’s Witt who will take center stage in New York as the Royals open the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. Game 1 is set for 5:38 p.m. Central Time Saturday (TBS or Max).

“It was actually last night (Thursday), just looking at it on the train ride and stuff,” Witt said of watching Jeter’s highlights. “Just being able to see it, just because of how the stadium is, how the fans are.

“I just wanted to take it all in perspective, and going out there today in a workout and then tomorrow, I’m just taking it all in.”

Witt shares a lot of Jeter’s special traits. He is a natural leader and has made tremendous strides defensively. The Royals are making a magical playoff run in large part thanks to Witt and his historic production.

Now, Witt wants to write his own postseason story.

“Jeter was my guy, so I was always watching what he did out here,” he said. “So it’s just really special to see all the postseason moments that he had.”

He’s only appeared in two MLB playoff games so far, but Witt has already turned in a few memorable postseason moments of his own. He produced both game-winning runs against the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild Card Series.

The Royals hope for similar production against the Yankees. Witt, who wore No. 17 in high school like his two favorite players — Jeter and Boston’s Dustin Pedroia — is excited to continue his playoff journey in front of nearly 50,000 fans in New York.

“When you think of postseason baseball, you kind of think it’s going to be in New York somehow, some shape, some fashion,” Witt said. “So really being able to come out here and kind of bringing the Royals out here and doing this is going to be a lot of fun.”

Odds for this series aside, Witt believes in his team’s chances and hopes to channel his inner Jeter for the Royals.

“We approach it as any other series,” Witt said. “We come in here, playing our game. Worry about one day at a time, focus one step at a time and not really focus on any outside noise.

“And I know, yeah, we could be the underdogs, whatever, but we have confidence in ourselves that we can just go out there and do our thing.”