SURPRISE, Ariz. -- A light-hearted comment from the coaches led to a moment of realization for Bobby Witt Jr. on Friday afternoon after workouts on the back fields of the Royals’ training facility.

“They were like, ‘Oh, hey, you’re not taking 1,000 swings today,’” said Witt, ever the competitor and perfectionist. “I feel like that’s maturing, knowing what my body needs and what I need each and every day.

“It’s early in spring. I just want to ease my way into it, don’t want to peak too early, get my body right for whenever I need it to be in go mode.”

• Pressure simply 'motivation' for KC's Witt Jr.

All eyes are on Witt -- the No. 3 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline -- as he enters his third spring with the Royals, perhaps even more so with big league Spring Training on hold because of the lockout. The 21-year-old infielder is one of 30-40 players in Surprise for minicamp ahead of Minor League Spring Training.

Next year around this time, it’s extremely likely Witt will return as a big leaguer. He’s expected to make his long-anticipated MLB debut this season.

It’s safe to say he’s ready for it.

“I feel like I’ve done all the preparation I’ve needed to,” Witt said. “So it’s time and place. Whenever. I just want to help the team win.”

After Witt posted a slash line of .290/.361/.576 with a .936 OPS, 33 home runs and 29 stolen bases across Double-A and Triple-A last season, there’s not much else he has to prove in the Minors. The next step in improving his game is facing better competition and making the transition to Kansas City.

He’ll get the chance to make the team when Major League camp begins.

“We’re going to be open-minded to that,” president of baseball operations Dayton Moore said, “as we’ve always been. If you’re in Major League camp, you have an opportunity to make this team. … We all understand how talented he is. He has the ability to help a Major League Baseball team win in multiple ways, but his personality and energy is equally impactful.”

Witt is a true five-tool player with a chance to be a generational talent. That doesn’t mean he won’t struggle like every Major League player does. While those around him have always believed he’s going to be able to handle the failure well, and make quick adjustments, the way he reacted to a slow start in Double-A last season was more evidence of that belief.

Witt's performance last Spring Training against Major League competition amplified the hype surrounding him as he made a push to be on the Opening Day roster. He acknowledged he felt it, too.

“Getting that taste of being out there playing against big leaguers, playing with the big leaguers, knowing that maybe there’s a chance that I get this opportunity that’s been a lifelong goal,” Witt said. “Then -- not getting shot down but knowing that you’re not ready yet, that kind of put me down.”

The Royals decided Witt needed more games under his belt and assigned him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The news was understandable but frustrating, and he focused on doing more at the plate and in the field to prove he belonged at the top level. That only led to strikeouts.

When conversations with Royals staffers and teammates made him realize he didn’t need to be pushing, that’s when his approach simplified and his production increased. Soon, he was leading off the Futures Game at Coors Field and earning a promotion to Triple-A Omaha.

“When things started to kick-start last year, when things started going, that was when I was being me and not trying to do more or less,” Witt said. “Going out there and knowing what I need to do, what my job is. That’s what ‘simple’ means to me.

After his first full season of professional baseball games since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2019, Witt is bigger, stronger and more knowledgeable about what he needs to do to prepare for the coming season. While he eyes the regular season, his focus is on the work he does every day in camp -- batting practice, cage work, fielding drills and speed development.

Beyond that, things are out of his control. His time will be here soon enough.

“Really it’s just all about timing,” Witt said. “It’s not my decision. I just have to go out there and perform and do my job. Now, I know that. … Last year was a great year, but I’m even more excited for this year.”