MLB fans melt as young super fan makes 1000-mile trip to watch favorite player Bobby Witt Jr., $745,750 shortstop responds with class
For Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals, 2023 has not yielded much to cheer about. The team's 37-78 record puts them second-last in the entire American League.
However, on July 28, Bobby Witt Jr. made at least one fan forget all about that. With the Royals trailing by a score of 5-4 in the 10th inning against the Minnesota Twins, the second baseman cranked a 414-foot moonshot off of reliever Jhoan Duran to deliver a 8-5 victory for his team.
As exciting as the outcome was for Royals fans, it meant something special to one young fan in particular. After the game, a video emerged of a fan whose young daughter had travelled over 1000 miles from Georgia to watch her favorite player.
All the way from Georgia to see her favorite player hit a walk-off grand slam. Literally brought her to tears.
Record be damned. How can you not be romantic about baseball.
@BwittJr twitter.com/i/web/status/1… pic.twitter.com/CSmMRhH7hj
"All the way from Georgia to see her favorite player hit a walk-off grand slam. Literally brought her to tears. Record be damned. How can you not be romantic about baseball." - Ryan Atkinson
The fan, who goes by the name Ryan Atkinson, saw the post blow up. According to his Twitter, Atkinson is a diehard Kansas City Royals fan living in Georgia. His love of his hometown team was evidently transfered to his daughter, Rae. Supporters of all stripes thought the story was endearing.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr That’s awesome! My daughter only gets that excited for Taylor Swift. Lol.
@ryandatkinson @CespedesBBQ @BwittJr Baseball is the best…. Makes me cry too… lol…
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr That kid needs to move here.
Since breaking on to the scene last season, Bobby Witt Jr. has become a favorite of Royals fans everywhere. The 23-year old is a former 2nd overall pick of the Royals. He hit .254/.294/.428 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs last season for a fourth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr That’s fantastic! We were pretty pumped watching from home too; my 7 yo adores BWJ.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr This is what baseball is about!!
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr @SlangsOnSports Baseball is the best!
The Minnesota Twins currently lead the AL Central, 23 games ahead of the Royals. While it is all but impossible for the Royals to make the postseason, many contenders undoubtedly wish that they had the sort of love that this young fan has for Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr This was awesome. Thank you for sharing.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr My 8 year old son had a similar tears-of-joy moment at a game last week. Beautiful.
@ryandatkinson @BwittJr Her joyous reaction is as delightful as the walkoff GS itself. Beautiful moment. Thx for sharing it.
Bobby Witt Jr. comments make him a class act
Upon seeing Rae's reaction, Bobby Witt Jr. had a similar reaction to many of the fans online. The young stud's heart was warmed by his young superfan's excitement.
Baseball is the best. 💙
Bobby had a special surprise for his biggest fan. pic.twitter.com/4pA0neJwXB
"Baseball is the best. Bobby had a special surprise for his biggest fan." - Kansas City Royals
In a show of gratitude for her fandom, Witt Jr. sent Rae a personalized video in which he announced that he would be sending her a pair of signed baseball cards.
Witt Jr. and the Royals will come to Rae Atkinson's home town to take on the Atlanta Braves in Summer 2024. Perhaps maybe the pair can be reunited then.