Bobby Witt Jr. is proving superstar value goes far beyond home runs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The American League MVP race usually turns into a power contest. Home runs dominate headlines, highlight shows and award conversations. But according to ESPN’s latest MLB Awards Watch, Bobby Witt Jr. is building his MVP case in a completely different way.
And honestly, it may be even more impressive. Despite what Bradford Doolittle described as a relatively “pedestrian” offensive start by Witt’s standards, the Kansas City Royals shortstop still sits atop ESPN’s AL MVP rankings entering late May.
That says everything about the kind of player Witt has become.
Witt is dominating every part of the game
The ESPN breakdown highlighted something many casual fans often overlook when discussing MVP races. Witt is not just an elite hitter. He is impacting games everywhere. According to Doolittle, Witt has been the most valuable defender in baseball based on FanGraphs’ DEF metric while also ranking among the league’s best baserunners. Add in premium shortstop positional value, and suddenly his overall production becomes overwhelming even before factoring in a potential offensive hot streak.
That matters because Witt’s offensive numbers likely are not staying quiet forever. ESPN specifically noted that his isolated power numbers are currently lower than expected, suggesting a power surge could still be coming later in the season. If that happens while his defense and baserunning remain elite, the MVP race could start separating quickly.
Aaron Judge is still looming over the race
Of course, nobody should pretend this award race is anywhere close to over. The article also pointed out that Aaron Judge recently snapped an 11-game stretch without a homer or RBI with a game-winning blast against Tampa Bay. Even during a “down” stretch, Judge remains on pace for another 50-homer season.
That is the terrifying reality for AL pitchers. Still, Witt represents something different stylistically. Judge overwhelms games with brute offensive force. Witt controls games through versatility, athleticism and constant pressure in every phase.
That balance is why ESPN’s metrics continue to favor him so heavily.
MORE: Shohei Ohtani’s impossible MVP-Cy Young chase is suddenly becoming very real
Kansas City’s playoff hopes could shape everything
One detail from Doolittle’s report could become critical later in the summer. He noted that Witt’s MVP chances would improve significantly if Kansas City can climb into serious playoff contention. Historically, team success still matters in MVP voting, whether voters openly admit it or not.
That means Witt may ultimately need the Royals to stay relevant deep into September if he wants to finally dethrone Judge in the AL hierarchy. But if Kansas City starts winning consistently, the foundation for Witt’s first MVP season already appears to be in place.
More MLB news:
- Shohei Ohtani’s impossible MVP-Cy Young chase is suddenly becoming very real
- Colton Cowser delivers historic Orioles moment when Baltimore needed it most
- Paul Skenes suddenly looks human again as Pirates’ problems keep growing
- Cardinals may have accidentally created the perfect baseball atmosphere
- James Wood delivered one of baseball’s rarest moments in win
