Bobby Witt Jr. has emerged as a strong contender for the AL MVP, challenging Aaron Judge in a season largely defined by the Yankees star. As of Thursday, Witt boasts an impressive 7.5 bWAR, with DraftKings placing his MVP odds at +550, second only to Judge.
Witt, the Royals’ shortstop, is proving his worth as a legitimate candidate. He leads the majors in runs (99), batting average (.349), hits (162), and total bases (281). His performance on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium further solidified his rising star status, as he hit two home runs and delivered a crucial go-ahead two-run double in the Royals’ 8-4 victory over the Red Sox, keeping Kansas City in the third wild-card spot.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who witnessed Witt’s dominance firsthand, offered high praise for the young star. Witt’s excellence isn’t confined to his offense; defensively, he ranks in the 99th percentile in Fielding Run Value according to Baseball Savant, a significant contrast to Judge’s 28th percentile. Witt’s all-around game makes him a more complete player than Judge, who has been taking on more DH duties, with 17 appearances there since July 1 — already surpassing his total from the first three months of the season.
Yet, Judge remains a formidable competitor. With a 7.9 bWAR, he leads the majors in nearly every key offensive category, including home runs, RBIs, walks, OBP, SLG, and OPS+. Simply put, Judge is the best hitter in baseball.
However, Witt Jr. has something that Judge doesn’t — momentum. As the Royals vie for a playoff spot, chants of “MVP” are becoming a regular occurrence whenever Witt steps up to the plate.
The Royals are currently four games behind the AL Central-leading Guardians and face the second-toughest remaining schedule in the league, according to Tankathon. While this presents a significant challenge, it also gives Witt Jr. the opportunity to showcase his talent against top-tier competition.
The only Royals player to ever win the MVP award is George Brett, who narrowly beat out the Yankees’ Reggie Jackson in 1980.
If the Royals can stage a late-season surge and overtake the Guardians, Witt Jr. could very well find himself holding the MVP trophy. While Judge may be the frontrunner, Witt is making it clear that the race is far from over.
