SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Bobby Witt Jr. Era of Kansas City Royals baseball will begin Thursday on opening day at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals announced Tuesday that they are promoting Witt, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2019, to the major leagues.
Witt’s debut figures to be the most anticipated in recent franchise history, perhaps surpassing that of Alex Gordon, who went from top prospect to franchise icon.
The move had been expected for months, that the Royals’ top prospect and one of the most highly regarded young players in the sport will be promoted to the majors before the Royals play Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium in a 3:10 p.m. first pitch.
Witt found out he’d made the club Tuesday when he got called into manager Mike Matheny’s office and saw Royals veteran players Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi as well as general manager J.J. Picollo in the office with Matheny.
If that wasn’t a big enough indication that one of the worst-kept secrets in baseball was about to be officially revealed, Witt noticed Merrifield recording.
“I saw Whit kind of videoing, so then that’s kind of how I knew something was up,” Witt said. “Then they told me the news. It was just awesome.
“And awesome being able to share it with those guys as well. Then I came in here afterwards and all the guys were congratulating me. I can’t really put words to the feeling of how it was. My stomach sank. Tears came to my eyes. It was something I’ll never forget.”
Witt, who MLBPipeline.com ranked the No. 1 prospect in the sport earlier this spring, has played just one full season in the minor leagues. Yet he still demonstrated an undeniable talent and ability that forced the Royals to make him part of their plans this season.
“I always thought about, I’d seen videos of guys and it happening then I go in there and it actually happens,” Witt said. “It’s that moment that you never really thing it will actually happen, but it happened. It’s a dream come true, truly a blessing. I can’t wait to see what’s to come.”
Witt said his next focus immediately becomes staying in the big leagues, winning games and, ultimately, doing what the Royals did in 2015, referring to winning the World Series.
“That’s the next chapter to try to get to,” Witt said.
The 21-year-old has been the club’s starting third baseman for the majority of spring training in Arizona. He often batted in the No. 2 spot in the club’s batting order between All-Stars Merrifield and Perez, a record-setting catcher and former World Series MVP.
“I feel pretty comfortable with him at third base. I think he’s going to do a tremendous job for us, help the team win,” Perez told The Kansas City Star last week. “I think he’s ready for opening day.”
While MLBPipeline.com puts Witt atop the prospect rankings, Baseball America ranked him as its No. 3 overall prospect, while ESPN.com’s Kiley McDaniel and Fangraphs.com each ranked him as their No. 2 prospect.
