Is Bobby Witt Jr. writing an MVP-worthy season?

Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ flagship player, is undoubtedly one of the greatest home run hitters in Major League Baseball. With every swing, he reinforces his place as the undisputed favorite to win this season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The bookmakers give him a 92 percent chance of taking home the award. But is the race for the MVP really that clear-cut?

Judge is having a season reminiscent of his incredible 2022 year, when he won MVP honors after hitting 62 homers and a .311/.425/.686 average. This year, his performance has been equally impressive, keeping him in the conversation as a possible winner of the prestigious award for the second consecutive year. He has 42 homers and is one away from reaching 300 for his career.

However, amid Judge’s dominance, another name is making a lot of noise: Bobby Witt Jr., the electrifying shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. Though he hasn’t racked up as many home runs as Judge, Witt has been an unstoppable force on the diamond. He leads the major leagues in hits, batting average, and runs scored. Not only are his 168 hits 21 more than his closest competitors, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Luis Arráez, but his .349 average is significantly higher than Judge’s, hitting .332.

On Wednesday, Witt proved his worth again, being the key to the Royals’ 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. He hit a home run that left everyone speechless with the height at which he hit the ball. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, the pitch was more than three feet off the ground, making it the highest home run hit by a Royals player on record.

That blast not only kept the Royals from being swept in the series but also kept them as one of just six teams to have suffered just one sweep this season. Witt has proven to be a hit machine, leading MLB with 51 multi-hit games. These represent 42.5% of the 120 games he has played and far outnumber his 25 no-hitters, cementing him as one of the league’s most consistent figures.

Even though the odds favor Judge, the MVP race is far from a walk in the park. Bobby Witt Jr. has proven he's ready to challenge the Yankees juggernaut, and the battle for MLB's most prestigious recognition promises to be more intense than anyone imagined.

Future assured

Bobby Witt Jr. signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals on March 25, 2022. The deal is an 11-year, $288 million extension that ensures Witt will remain with the team through the 2034 season.

The contract’s base terms include a $7.777 million signing bonus plus opt-outs after years seven, eight, nine, and ten.

If Witt doesn’t opt out at any of those points and makes it through Year 11, the Royals have a three-year option for $89 million.