Bobby Witt Jr. Makes History as First SS with Multiple 30-30 Seasons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals has made history by becoming the first shortstop in Major League Baseball to achieve multiple seasons with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. This milestone was reached when he stole second base in the first inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers.

Witt has had an impressive season, hitting 31 home runs, including a grand slam in the series opener against the Tigers, and recording 30 stolen bases. The young star, just 24 years old, also made headlines last season when he stole 49 bases and reached the 30 home run mark with three games remaining on the schedule.

The son of former major league pitcher Bobby Witt, Witt has also become the first player to achieve multiple 30-30 seasons within his first three years in the majors. Notably, only six other players in baseball history have recorded even one 30-30 season during their initial three years in the league.

Drafted second overall in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Witt signed a significant 11-year contract with the Royals in the offseason, worth $288,777,777. This contract, the largest in the team’s history, included a unique signing bonus of $7,777,777, honoring his popular No. 7 jersey that has captivated Kansas City fans throughout the team’s playoff run.

The Royals are currently holding a position in the American League wild-card race, with a chance to close the gap on the Cleveland Guardians in the division standings.

Witt has played a pivotal role in the Royals’ turnaround from a disappointing 106-loss season last year. He entered the game on Tuesday leading all of Major League Baseball with 200 hits, a .332 batting average, and 112 runs scored. Historically, only a few players—such as Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, and Rod Carew—have finished a season leading the league in all three of these categories.

Beyond his impressive statistics, Witt has infused a much-needed energy and enthusiasm into a team desperate for a change. The Royals experienced significant success in 2014 and 2015, winning back-to-back American League pennants and their first World Series title in 30 years. However, they have struggled to maintain that success, suffering through multiple seasons with at least 100 losses.

This year, under the guidance of second-year manager Matt Quatraro, the Royals are showing signs of revitalization.

Witt’s rise to stardom has been evident to fans in Kansas City. His highlight moment came during the Home Run Derby this summer at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, near his hometown of Colleyville. Witt made it to the finals of the event, ultimately losing to Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling contest that was decided by just one swing.