No one was particularly surprised last amateur draft season when the KC Royals, after stocking up on top-flight pitching the year before, selected a position player with their first round pick. Nor was it a shock when their choice was Bobby Witt Jr., rated by everyone as a can’t miss, can’t pass up, shortstop.
The Royals took Witt, the son of former major leaguer Bobby Witt, with the second overall pick. He’s a five-tool player–he can hit, hit with power, throw, play good defense and run well. Although his power didn’t show during his premiere professional season last summer in the Arizona Rookie League –he hit one home run in 180 trips to the plate–he has it and there’s no serious doubt it will be a feature of his game.