Future Watch: Bobby Witt Jr Rookie Baseball Cards, Royals – Bobby Witt Jr. was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the second overall pick in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. His father was a famous pitcher, who struck out almost 2,000 batters in a 16-year career. Dad did hit one homer in the majors, so his son has something to shoot for to be the best in his family.
The Colleyville, Texas native is a shortstop. The folks at Perfect Game had his ranked as the top shortstop in the country heading into the draft. They tracked his exit velocity at 100 miles per hour and that’s why many had him ranked the top offensive prospect in his draft class.
He is committed to the University of Oklahoma but in his junior season at Colleyville Heritage High School, he hit an amazing .446 with ten home runs. He hit a homer in the Under Armour All-America Baseball game at Wrigley Field where he took home the MVP Award. He won the High School Home Run Derby during that summer of 2018 at Nationals Park. He helped his team win gold in the Pan-American Championships.
In 2019, he hit .515 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in his senior year in high school.
According to his MLB.com Prospect Profile:
A rare potential five-tool shortstop, Witt didn’t always make consistent contact on the showcase circuit last summer, but scouts aren’t worried about his bat, especially as he showed improvement on that front this past spring. The right-handed hitter shows good barrel control and some willingness to use the entire field, so he should hit for average as he modifies his aggressive approach.
His raw power and speed are both plus tools, which, combined with his baserunning instincts, could make him a 20-20 player. Witt covers plenty of ground at shortstop, has quick hands, and possesses the arm strength to make all the necessary throws — as well as pump mid-90s fastballs from the mound. His love for the game is evident, and scouts praise his makeup as much as his physical ability. That could allow him to move a bit more quickly than the typical high school draftee. ETA 2022.
After the draft in 2019, he played in 37 games in the Arizona League, he hit .262 with a homer and 27 RBI and nine steals.
As a top prospect with a strong pedigree, it’s not surprising that the junior Witt already has literally hundreds of baseball cards on the market. Some of the earliest are his cards from 2018 Panini Elite Extra Edition, 2018 Leaf Metal Perfect Game All-American and 2018 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes. His first Bowman cards are in 2019 Bowman’ Best. Collectors can also find his cards in 2020 Bowman as both a Chrome Prospect and Base Paper Prospect, each with autographs.
Here’s his prospect highlights video:
Witt Jr. was included on the Royals 60-man roster for MLB’s shortened season, so he can play some baseball, even if it’s mainly practice in 2020. He is a must-collect prospect.
Future Watch: Bobby Witt Jr Rookie Baseball Cards, Royals – Stats
| Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 19 | -0.6 | Royals | ARIZ | Rk | KCR | 37 | 180 | 164 | 30 | 43 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 35 | .262 | .317 | .354 | .670 | 58 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| All Levels (1 Season) | 37 | 180 | 164 | 30 | 43 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 35 | .262 | .317 | .354 | .670 | 58 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
Future Watch: Bobby Witt Jr Rookie Baseball Cards, Royals – More Resources
Future Watch: Bobby Witt Jr Rookie Baseball Cards, Royals – Image Gallery
For more from Russ Cohen, follow him on Twitter @sportsology.
Russ Cohen
is the author of several top-selling sports related books.
Baseball’s Best Rookies
Numbers Don’t Lie: Mets: The Biggest Numbers in Mets History
100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters
100 Things Rangers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
“Strike Three!” – A Player’s Journey through the Infamous Baseball Strike of 1994
The Winter Classic: The NHL’s Savior
The Philadelphia Flyers: Images of Sports
Pioneers of Baseball
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