Kansas City Royals: 2023 realistic arrival time for Bobby Witt Jr.

By Leigh Oleszczak | Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Adalberto Mondesi #27 of the Kansas City Royals in position during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

The KC Royals used the second overall pick on Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019 and more than likely, he will make his debut in 2023.

The Kansas City Royals have a lot to look forward to when it comes to the future at shortstop, as they made Bobby Witt Jr. the second overall pick in last year’s draft and the 19 year old from Texas should be their face of the franchise when his MLB call-up arrives.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report put a list together of every MLB team’s five-year plan at the shortstop position where he obviously touched on what Witt could provide for the team in the future. He also discussed their current shortstop – Adalberto Mondesi – who he thinks will hold onto the job until 2022.

Mondesi has been very good for the Royals. He’s fast and a stellar defender, but at the same time, when a franchise changing player like Witt is working his way through the minor leagues, Mondesi is going to have to play lights out these next few years if he wants to keep his starting job even if he is under contract through 2024.

More from Bobby Witt Jr.

"However, he also walked just 19 times all year en route to an ugly .291 on-base percentage. That’s not going to cut it going forward."

Mondesi will be the surefire shortstop over the next few seasons until Witt is ready to come up. What the Royals decide to do with him once Witt comes up is unknown. He could be moved to another position (maybe second base if Nicky Lopez doesn’t pan out, as Mondesi did play second base initially when he was called up by the Royals) or traded if a contending team is looking to add a good defensive player.

The shortstop position is Witt’s to lose honestly and Reuter predicts that 2023 is a realistic time to expect a call-up for the 2019 second overall pick.

"The position will be cleared for him once he’s deemed MLB-ready. With baseball bloodlines and strong intangibles, he should move quicker than the average prep prospect, but there’s also no reason to rush him. A 2023 arrival seems realistic."

Witt has the potential to be a franchise changing kind of player for the struggling Royals and that’s obviously something for fans to look forward to. Baseball isn’t the same when it comes to drafting at certain positions, as you never know who is going to make it through the minor leagues and who is going to fizzle out.

Witt seems like a lock to make it to the big leagues in the coming years (his dad also was a major league ball player) and once he gets to Kansas City, the shortstop gig is his to lose for sure.

Home/Bobby Witt Jr.