Witt Jr. building on lessons learned as he competes for spot

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals manager Mike Matheny and his coaching staff did their best to make sure the starters for Friday’s Cactus League opener against the Rangers knew it was OK to not play at 100 percent, even if it goes against everything the organization stands for.

Because with how quickly spring games started this year -- camp opened just five days ago -- the worst thing that could happen is an injury happening in a Cactus League game with Opening Day less than three weeks away.

Telling them to slow down and seeing them slow down are two different things though, especially getting into game action in a stadium full of fans. No one exemplifies that more than Bobby Witt Jr.

“I was itching all this morning to get out there and get things going,” Witt Jr. said. “From the first pitch on, I was ecstatic. It was like a little kid on Christmas, honestly. “

Witt Jr. took the field for the first time as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect in baseball Friday, playing third base and hitting eighth in a lineup that looked awfully like what the Royals’ projected Opening Day lineup might be. Matheny noted that Witt Jr.’s best opportunity to make the team out of camp is going to be at third base, so he’s been taking reps there alongside shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and second baseman Nicky Lopez.

At Surprise Stadium, Witt Jr. was one of the players who stole the show, going 2-for-2 at the plate while displaying his hit and speed tools. He hit a chopper up the first-base line that he legged out for a single, before lining a pitch into center field in the fourth inning for a hustle double.

Fortunately, Witt Jr. is one of the players who has been in Minor League camp for almost a month, getting live at-bats and innings in the field, so there wasn’t a full slate of limitations. Witt Jr. could just go play and show off his skills, and that seems to be his favorite thing in the world to do.

“The X-factor for him might be his passion for the game,” Matheny said. “This kid loves walking in here and throwing on that jersey.”

Witt Jr. was humbled by the No. 1 prospect title, but he also didn’t let it get to his head. None of the accolades he’s acquired to date have, and it’s not likely that his future awards will, either.

“It’s truly an honor to be able to be up with other names in the past,” Witt Jr. said. “That’s the one thing I saw -- all the other guys who were rated the No. 1 prospect. It’s motivation for me. It’s one step closer to graduating from that list. That’s my ultimate goal. One guy I worked out with told me that prospects have done nothing until you get there and graduate from that list. That’s my ultimate goal. This was part of it. This was awesome. I’ll cherish it for however long. But now it’s just time to hopefully get up there with the big boys.”

Witt Jr.’s time is approaching quickly. The now 21-year-old made a strong push for the Opening Day roster last spring and did everything he could to make that decision for the organization. But he only had 37 professional at-bats at that point, so the Royals had him start the season in Double-A. After a slow start, which Witt Jr. admitted might have been because he was disappointed in getting sent down, he took off at the plate. He was promoted to Triple-A midway through the year and continued raking, posting a .936 OPS across both levels, with 33 home runs and 29 stolen bases.

This spring, nothing has changed about Witt Jr.’s mentality in Major League camp. He is confident and mature, but gracious and humble. He knows how his talent plays while also knowing how to handle himself in the clubhouse, on the backfields and in games while being surrounded by active big leaguers.

“For someone who has so many accolades coming his way -- it’s beautiful,” Matheny said. “He was the exact same guy today when he walked in here. What a great compliment. I hope he lives up to whatever expectations he has for himself, and in that, he can remain that.

“That’s, to me -- wow. How cool would it be for us to witness that? And he’s taking all the right steps right now to do that.”

Being level-headed as a player is Witt Jr.’s “ultimate” goal, he said. Whether that’s on the field or in the clubhouse, if he can be the same person for himself and for his teammates, that’s when he’ll thrive. He learned that from years spent listening to his dad, Bobby Witt, a 16-year Major League veteran pitcher. Witt Jr. also learned that from last spring, when he did get his hopes up to make the team, only to get sent to Double-A instead.

“Last year, I really learned from failure and other things that I have to be myself,” Witt Jr. said. “Not try to do too much. Not try to go out there and be someone I’m not, but be Bobby Witt Jr. … I’ve talked to my dad. He wishes he could have gone back in the past and just been around and like taken it all in more. Now, he’s telling me, ‘Take everything in. Take everything one at a time.’”