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Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Jacob Wilson: Stage is set for MLB All-Star roster showdown
Last season, Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. rose above the crowded field of talented shortstops, posting the best numbers of any one at his position and achieving an elite status. Witt finished his lauded 2024 campaign hitting .332/.389/.588 with 32 home runs and 31 stolen bases, winning a Gold Glove in the process. Both his .332 batting average and 211 hits led MLB. If it hadn’t been for the offensive force of nature known as Aaron Judge, Witt would’ve walked away with the American League MVP award.
This year, Witt is well on his way to posting another stellar season, only this time, he’s not alone at the top of his class. A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson, a clear AL Rookie of the Year favorite, has broken out in spectacular fashion. Wilson’s emergence begs the question: Is Witt still MLB’s best shortstop?
Although we don't have a full season's worth of data on Wilson, it is a debate that will take center stage as the MLB All-Star voting gets underway. While All-Star voting is never the most accurate player comparison, it’s a valid measurement of their performance over a snapshot in time.
In the last MLB All-Star season, Witt fell just short of landing the starting AL shortstop job, losing to Gunnar Henderson. Henderson’s performance at the time was on-par with Witt’s; however, his stunning power gave him the edge over Witt’s batting average.
That brings us to this snapshot in time. If the All-Star voting started and ended today, who would win the starting spot in the AL: Witt or Wilson? Let’s go over the stats (all advanced metrics provided by FanGraphs):
| Player | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | WAR | wRC+ | Def | BsR |
|
Bobby Witt Jr. |
.305 | .368 | .508 | .876 | 2.8 | 137 |
7.7 | 2.7 |
| Jacob Wilson | .342 | .382 | .476 | .858 | 2.1 | 147 | 2.6 | 0.7 |
This debate certainly won’t be determined by either contender’s home run totals as each have five. Witt is clearly the better defender, leading all shortstops in defensive WAR, and he makes more of his opportunities on the basepaths with 2.7 baserunning runs above average. He also leads Wilson in slugging percentage having collected more extra-base hits. Wilson, who’s strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at one (10 walks, 10 strikeouts), has been more proficient in contact hitting and getting on base.
Right now, this soon-to-be All-Star roster battle is more or less a coin toss. Given last year’s performance, one would be more inclined to predict a starting roster spot for Witt. But when comparing both players now, neither truly has an upper hand. Still, we’ve got a long way to go before the Summer Classic, and anything could happen.
Thus far, both players are looking like All-Stars. Should they continue on their trajectories, this roster battle will be a story to keep an eye on.
More must-reads:
- MLB rookie class being dominated by catchers
- Who is the most underrated player on each MLB team?
- The 'MLB shortstops to hit 30+ home runs in a season' quiz
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Royals acquire outfield help in perplexing trade with Diamondbacks
The Kansas City Royals were hoping to bolster their outfield ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. They were able to do just that in a trade on Saturday. Steve Gilbert from MLB.com reported that the Royals have acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mark Feinsand from MLB.com reported that relief pitcher Andrew Hoffman will head to Arizona in exchange for Grichuk. The Royals desperately needed help in their outfield. Royals outfielders had been the worst in the majors, posting an atrocious .219/.273/.328 batting line with just 19 home runs entering Saturday's action. Although Grichuk is in the midst of a disappointing season himself, he is an immediate upgrade over whatever the Royals have sent into the outfield. Grichuk had posted a .243/.280/.462 batting line in 186 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting seven homers and 15 doubles. In exchange, the Diamondbacks receive Hoffman, who FanGraphs ranked as the Royals' 22nd-best prospect entering the season. His upper-90s fastball and new kick change are both considered plus offerings, although his ability to command his arsenal is questionable at best. Hoffman's potential and flaws were evident this season. He made his major league debut for the Royals, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings, striking out five. However, Hoffman had dominated at Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP over his 40 innings, striking out 55 batters with just 10 walks. He is another intriguing addition for a Diamondbacks team that has prioritized pitching in their two trades thus far. The same upside does not exist for the Royals. Kansas City had the same record as the Diamondbacks entering the second game of their doubleheader against the Guardians. Grichuk signed a one-year contract with $5 million guaranteed for 2025. There is a mutual option worth $5 million, with a $3 million buyout, for 2026. Theoretically, Grichuk could be part of the Royals' plans next season. However, mutual options are rarely picked up. As the Royals are currently under .500 and need to pass four teams in the standings to seize the final wild-card spot, adding a rental option does not make sense. It is possible that both sides can work out an arrangement for 2026, but unless that happens, the Royals' latest move is questionable at best.
Quinn Ewers’ Camp Performance Forces Dolphins Into Tough QB Decision
Being the backup quarterback isn't necessarily the most exciting role for anyone, but for a team like the Miami Dolphins, where starter Tua Tagovailoa has suffered four concussions since entering the NFL in 2020, it could be vital. As of now, a clear battle for that spot has formed between rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and veteran former first-round selection Zach Wilson as they go head-to-head. Of course, training camp is where these kinds of questions can be solved, and so far, it appears that Ewers has done a good job in putting his best foot forward. On Friday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel gave a very positive update on the young quarterback, stating, "Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers had a strong third practice of training camp. Made several impressive, big-time throws." The update sparked conversations among many fans, both supporting Ewers and a serious showing that there's interest in seeing who comes out on top. "Show ‘em, Quinn," said one comment. "He just does a lot of things (anticipatory throws, timing throws, MOTF accuracy, etc.) that fit this system much better than what Wilson does. I think with refinement and development we could have a backup in Miami that can operate the offense efficiently…finally," said another. "Love to hear it!" a third added. A fourth stated, "I'd be surprised if he's not the backup.." "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Quinn Ewers has the physical tools to stick at the next level. It’s just a matter of shaping the rest," a fifth continued. "That’s QB2 potential QB1 in the future Glad we drafted Ewers," said another. Another big test for both Ewers and Wilson will be during the Dolphins' three preseason games, as the coaching staff will get a much better look at how these two perform during live matchups. Luckily for both, though, being the backup is all they're truly fighting for, as Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports predicts that each will make the final 53-man roster, with cuts needing to be made by Aug. 27.
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