Bobby Witt Jr. Avoids Fracture After Injury Scare

Fans of the Kansas City Royals were left aghast after their star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. exited a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, March 12th. It came after a frightening moment in the fifth inning.

Witt Jr., the 2024 American League MVP runner-up and the cornerstone of the Royals’ resurgence which led to a playoff run last season, had to leave the game after he was struck on the forearm by a 95 mph fastball from Mariners reliever Andrés Muñoz. The impact sent Witt to the ground and Royals fans’ hearts jumped into their throat as trainers rushed to his side. For a fanbase that has pinned their new-season hopes on the 24-year-old phenom, this was the last thing they wanted to see.

After Witt walked off the field with a trainer, the Royals announced that he would undergo a scan to evaluate further. Of course, fears initially centered around a fracture given the velocity of the pitch and Witt’s reaction.

However, good news has arrived.

X-rays for a fracture came back negative, and the Royals diagnosed him with a left forearm contusion. Royals Manager Matt Quatraro said post-game that Witt had initially “lost feeling” in his fingers but said it is now returning. “They’re going to keep evaluating him, but it’s a relief to know nothing is broken,” Quatraro said.

It isn’t the first time Witt gave Royals fans a scare. In August 2024, he took a pitch off his right middle finger but managed to stay in the game, with X-rays also showing no serious damage.

Last season, he played 161 games and batted .332 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs, while leading the majors with 211 hits. The Royals, who are fresh off their first playoff series win since their 2015 World Series-winning campaign, are leaning heavily on his magic as they contend in the AL Central in 2025.

The new MLB season is just around the corner, and the Royals will open their season against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, March 27th.