Top MLB prospect Bobby Witt Jr. to debut Thursday for Royals

Witt Jr. was selected by Kansas City with the second-overall pick in the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft and recorded one home run, 27 RBIs, nine stolen bases and a .262/.317/.354 slash line across 180 plate appearances with the Arizona League Royals — the Rookie-level affiliate of Kansas City. The son of former MLB pitcher Bobby Witt entered 2020 as the No. 10 prospect in the game, but his minor-league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The infielder came into 2021 as the seventh-ranked prospect and opened the year with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, where he registered 16 home runs, 51 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and a .295/.369/.570 slash line over 279 plate appearances. Witt Jr. was promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where he racked up 17 home runs, 46 RBIs and 15 stolen bases with a .285/.352/.581 slash line in 285 plate appearances.

In 744 plate appearances covering 161 career minor-league games, Witt Jr. posted 34 home runs, 124 RBIs and 38 stolen bases. During the abbreviated 2022 spring training, the 21-year-old went 13-for-32 (.406) with three home runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases.