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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde explains decision to pitch to Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.

pete grathoff
·3 min read

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino wowed the baseball world by returning to the Royals lineup Tuesday, less than five weeks after his thumb was broken in a game.

Pasquantino didn’t have an opportunity for a rehabilitation stint in the minors before he served as designated hitter in Game 1 of the Royals’ Wild Card Series against the Orioles in Baltimore.

That became a point of emphasis for Orioles fans following the Royals’ 1-0 victory.

With the Royals’ Maikel Garcia on third base and two outs of a scoreless game in the sixth inning, Bobby Witt Jr. came to the plate. Witt won baseball’s batting title this season and is in the running to be the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

The Orioles were faced with a choice: Pitch to Witt or intentionally walk him and face Pasquantino, who hadn’t played in a game a month. Baltimore chose the former and paid the price. Witt singled off starter Corbin Burnes and Garcia scored the game’s only run.

Hyde explained the decision to face Witt.

“I’m letting Corbin Burnes, the way he’s throwing the baseball right there, determine who he wants to go get,” Hyde said.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro wasn’t surprised by the decision to pitch to Witt.

“That guy was incredible today,” Quatraro said of Burnes. “He’s got incredible stuff. He locates, you know, that’s your best pitcher and our best hitter. That’s why you play this game right? But, I would’ve been more surprised if he walked.”

Orioles fans unhappy

Some Baltimore fans unloaded on manager Brandon Hyde following the game for pitching to Witt.

Here is what they were saying on X.

This story includes reporting by The Star’s Jaylon Thompson