Bobby Witt Jr.’s breakout 2024 campaign continued on Thursday. The 24-year-old smashed homer No. 20 on the year, accomplishing an MLB first.
With the round-tripper, the Kansas City Royals star is the first player in baseball history to begin their career recording 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in back-to-back-to-back years.
In 2023, Witt became only the seventh player in MLB history to post consecutive 20/20 seasons to start their career. Only three players have done so in three of their first four seasons, including Grady Sizemore, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds, per Stathead.
Witt has seemingly picked up where he left off following a red-hot July that saw him catapult into the American League MVP award conversation. Through 23 games, he went hitless only once, slashing an incredible .489/.520/.833 with seven home runs and 22 RBI.
The Royals star went 2-for-4 in Thursday’s 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers, increasing a hit streak that’s reached 14 games. Meanwhile, Witt ranks among the top 10 in several categories league-wide, including RBI (sixth, 78), OPS (fourth, 1.002) and batting average (first, .350).
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Witt has the second-best odds to win AL MVP honors (+440), trailing only New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (-950).