"I always wanted to follow in his footsteps" - Bobby Witt Jr. reflects on WS champ father’s MLB legacy & making his own mark in the big leagues
Rich Eisen and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals recently spoke about Bobby's baseball journey and his remarkable 2024 season. Witt Jr. currently leads the major leagues in batting average, hitting at .336.
Bobby's father, Bobby Witt Sr. was also a professional baseball player, playing 16 seasons in the big leagues. He represented the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks. He also won the World Series in 2001 and a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic games with the USA Baseball team.
On Saturday's episode of The Rich Eisen Show, Bobby explained how he honors his father's legacy while forging his own path in the sport. (4:36)
"2001 was his (Bobby Witt Sr.) last year. He won a World Series that year. So just having that World Series ring near me, putting it on when I was little, that's when I knew it was a big deal. Him always telling me stories about the guys he played with, and when I started to understand he played for 16 years in the big leagues.
"I wanted to be able to do that. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps in a way, but I'm a position player and he was a pitcher, so that's how I kind of started my own little legacy."
Royals win series as Bobby Witt Jr. hits clutch RBI against Twins
The Kansas City Royals won their latest series on Saturday after they beat the Minnesota Twins at home. The Royals rallied late to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 win. Both starting pitchers were on their game, as Alec Marsh (Royals) gave up 2 earned runs in five innings and Bailey Ober (Twins) allowed only one hit in seven innings, giving up zero runs and striking out seven.
Bobby Witt Jr. was in the thick of the offensive action, as his eighth-inning RBI gave the Royals the lead. MJ Melendez repeated the trick to add insurance for the hosts before closer Lucas Erceg held the Twins at bay in the ninth.
With the Royals on pace to qualify for the playoffs, fans hope Bobby and Co. can maintain their play for the next few weeks. Next, the Royals visit the Bronx to take on the Yankees in what promises to be another thrilling series.