Presenting a very deep MLB 2022 rookie All-Star team
By Bill Felber
Third base
Bobby Witt Jr. is Kansas City’s shortstop now and for the foreseeable future. But Witt has played enough third base as a rookie — 55 games at the position, 50 of them starts — to justify moving him over one spot on the infield … especially since without Witt third base is the rookie team’s biggest weakness.
Like Pena and several other members of this rookie club, Witt came to spring camp with the burden of high expectations. The second overall pick in 2019 behind Rutschman in Baltimore, he is the son of former major league pitcher Bobby Witt.
He has given the Royals a strong building block season, including a .250 average, 20 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and 75 RBI. That has translated to only a minimal +0.8 WAR, although on the talent thin Royals that still qualifies Witt as the fifth-most valuable regular.
Witt needs to polish his defensive game. To date it has produced -4 Defensive Runs Saved, although that may be due in part to his occasional shuffle between shortstop and third base. At just 22 years old, the Royals fully expect both his offensive and defensive games to produce more productive numbers as they mature.
With a 103 OPS+, he’s already a slightly above average offensive threat, and there’s every indication he will build on that in future seasons.