Fastball

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. Does Something Not Done Since Barry Bonds in 1992

We knew Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals was good, but this should contextualize just how good...

Brady Farkas

May 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) at bat against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) at bat against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
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We've known since before he made his major league debut that Kansas City Royals' shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was good, but this should contextualize just how good: Witt Jr. has accomplished something that hasn't been done since Barry Bonds back in 1992.

Per @OptaSTATS on "X:"

The @Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. is the first MLB player to have at least 100 total bases, 30 RBI & 15 stolen bases in his first 50 games of a season since Barry Bonds in 1992.

While Bonds' name evokes a negative connotation because of his connection to steroid use, he is still one of the most talented players we have ever seen, so for Witt Jr. to be in his company is remarkable.

Witt Jr. is hitting .308 with seven homers, 33 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He's also posting a .365 on-base percentage. He should be in line for his first All-Star Game this summer as well.

As for Bonds, he won the MVP in that 1992 season while with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He led baseball that season in runs scored (109), walks (127), on-base percentage (.456), slugging percentage (.624), and OPS (1.080). He hit 34 homers that season and drove in 103 runs as the Pirates got to the NLCS.

Speaking of Bonds, the Pirates just announced that he's been elected into the team's Hall of Fame, which will come later this summer.

The Royals will be back in action on Friday night when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:50 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas

BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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