Witt Jr. sidelined with back tightness
The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to lower back tightness. This marks the first time in his career that Witt Jr. has been on the injured list. His stint on the IL is retroactive to July 20. Witt Jr. had previously left Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants experiencing back spasms and has not played since.
This development comes as the Royals, with a record of 42-60, are already considered sellers ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. The absence of their top hitter further solidifies this position. Witt Jr. has been a prominent offensive force this season, leading all American League players with 4.9 Baseball Reference WAR and 30 stolen bases. He has maintained an .800 OPS across 94 games.
Despite his individual performance, which includes slashing .279/.350/.450 with 13 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts, the Royals currently sit 12 games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. They are also 10 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot. Both FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference indicate his performance is nearly five wins above replacement this season.
Impact on MVP candidacy and team
Witt Jr.’s injury could affect his candidacy for the American League MVP award, even if his absence is limited to the minimum 10 days. He currently leads the American League in WAR, placing him squarely in the MVP discussion despite the Royals’ standing. However, a prolonged absence could require him to make up significant ground against other contenders such as Yordan Alvarez, Dillon Dingler, and Junior Caminero.
The Royals have not provided a specific timetable for Witt Jr.’s return. His customary elite shortstop defense will also be missed during his time away from the field. Any hopes for a turnaround before the trade deadline are likely diminished by this injury.
In response to Witt Jr.’s placement on the injured list, utility infielder Andrew Velazquez has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Velazquez has not played in the majors since 2023. To make space on the 40-man roster for Velazquez, right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Kolek had recently been placed on the IL due to a flexor strain.
Shortstop depth and other roster moves
With Witt Jr. sidelined, the shortstop position for Kansas City will be managed by a committee of players. This group is expected to include Velazquez, along with Tyler Tolbert, Nick Loftin, and Josh Rojas. Tolbert, a 28-year-old infielder, has an .806 OPS in 38 games this year. Loftin and Rojas have also played shortstop for the Royals at various times this season. Velazquez brings experience, having played over 1500 major league innings at the position.
Velazquez, who is 32 years old, last appeared in the majors during a 2022-23 stint with the Angels. In 275 big league games, he has accumulated 624 plate appearances, posting a batting line of .189/.244/.293. While recognized for his strong infield defense and running ability, his offensive production has been limited. This season, he has a combined batting line of .270/.333/.370 across 230 plate appearances between the Triple-A affiliates for Arizona and Kansas City.
The move of Stephen Kolek to the 60-day IL was anticipated given the nature of his injury. Manager Matt Quatraro had previously indicated that Kolek would undergo imaging to assess the severity of his flexor strain. Although the team has not provided a formal update on Kolek’s condition, this roster move suggests his season is likely over, with a minimum sideline period extending into mid-September. Flexor strains can sometimes necessitate surgery, which would entail an even longer recovery period.
Kolek has made 10 starts for the Royals this season, logging 54 innings with a 4.50 ERA. He has struck out 15.2% of opponents while demonstrating strong command, issuing walks at a rate of 5.4%. Over 213 1/3 major league innings across stints with San Diego and Kansas City, Kolek holds a 4.13 ERA. He was acquired by the Royals from the Padres in last summer’s Freddy Fermin trade and is under team control through the 2030 season.
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Source: nytimes.com
