Bobby Witt Jr. winning AL Rookie of the Year is KC Royals’ bold prediction

No member of the KC Royals is getting talked about more than top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. Could the team’s most promising prospect in over a decade win the AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2021? 

MLB.com has submitted their bold predictions for every team this year and for the Kansas City Royals, their bold prediction relates to Bobby Witt Jr., who was the No. 2 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Everyone is excited for Witt to make his way to the major leagues and it looked like he could end up on the Opening Day roster during spring training, but he was sent to the minors to start his career (there was no minor league play last year).

MLB.com’s bold prediction for the Royals is that Witt will win the AL Rookie of the Year. Bold indeed.

"For Witt, the Royals’ top prospect and baseball’s No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award would mean a lot has to go right. The 20-year-old infielder will not be on the Opening Day roster, so Witt would need the opportunity to come up in the early part of the season with everyday playing time and stick with the Royals the rest of the way. He was knocking at the door of the Majors with his performance for most of Spring Training, and the club won’t hesitate to bring him up when he’s ready and there’s an opportunity. He would be Kansas City’s first ROY since Angel Berroa won the award in 2003."

Witt wowed in spring training, sporting a .289/.325/.526 slash line with three home runs and seven RBI through 38 at-bats. He also dazzled on defense and really got this fan base excited for what’s to come.

While Witt winning AL Rookie of the Year isn’t unfathomable, Witt would have to be called up to the big leagues pretty early in order to obtain this goal. He’s starting the year in the minors, which was the right decision, but the award probably won’t go to someone who gets called up past June.

There’s certainly a lot to like about Witt and what he’ll be able to provide this team with. That’s the reason the Royals took him with the No. 2 selection two years ago and why he’ll be the face of the franchise moving forward. Bold predictions are just that though — They’re bold.

Witt should put on a show in 2021 but winning the conference’s rookie title is going to be tough, especially with the Royals not being the most exciting team and not getting a big honor if there’s someone from a “better” team more worthwhile.

If Witt can make the kind of impact in Kansas City that everyone seems to think he can and if he plays a major role in them contending late in the season or even – gasp – making the postseason, then perhaps this prediction won’t be so bold after all.