Analyzing Witt's game-changing speed

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- Last season, it took Bobby Witt Jr. 95 games to steal his 20th base. He ended his rookie season with 30 swipes.

In 2023, it took Witt just 62 games to steal his 20th base of the season. Whether it’s a product of the new rules -- bigger bases and fewer times a pitcher can attempt a pickoff -- or Witt simply getting better at his run game, or both, it’s easy to be impressed by Witt’s speed.

“It’s game-changing,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s interesting, because even when he doesn’t get great jumps, he’s got that … I think of it like they say in the NFL, that make-up speed. He just outruns a lot of balls.”

Witt’s 20 stolen bases ranked fourth in the Majors entering Sunday, behind Oakland’s Esteury Ruiz (31), Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. (28) and Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco (22). Witt has been caught stealing five times, the same as Acuña and Franco, and Ruiz has been caught six times.

“It’s a relaxed aggression,” Witt said. “Be up there, let your muscles relax and everything. And then go.

“I’m more comfortable on the bases this year. Learning when to go, when’s the right time. More people are stealing bases and it makes you want to do it.”

Witt, who will turn 23 on Wednesday, appreciates what his legs allow him to do. But when you talk to him, he’s more focused on the things he needs to improve on, and what the Royals need to improve on, to start playing better baseball.

“It’s obviously a goal to try to get on base and produce runs, and I just have to keep doing it,” Witt said. “It’s early, and I just got to keep it going. Stay healthy, stay trying to get on base and trying to produce runs. That’s my job, try to help produce runs, and right now, I feel like I haven’t been doing that.”

Despite 10 home runs, Witt had a .679 OPS entering Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles, underperforming after his rookie year, in which he posted a .722 OPS. His offensive struggles coincide with a Royals lineup which continues to make adjustments in June.

And while he’s constantly in the cage trying to make the small tweaks to unlock a more consistent swing, he’s always trying to get faster.

“I’ll continue to get better as a baserunner, and everything in my career,” Witt said. “Whether it’s jumps, offensively, defensively. We’re going through the struggles right now. Just trying to get better through it all.”