Dayton Moore’s first answer was par for the course.
He had been asked about Bobby Witt Jr. Asked about the 20-year-old shortstop who has lit the baseball world on fire this spring. And Moore, the Royals general manager, began the way he has in the past.
“He’s a special player,” Moore said of Witt on the Fantasy Alarm show with Howard Bender and Jim Bowden.
Moore, who has watched Witt play since the shortstop was 14 years old, said Witt has always been the most talented player on the field. He then said Witt has not only the tools but also the skill, a combination that means the Royals have an impact player. Truth be told, Moore wasn’t saying anything he hadn’t already said nor anything that was not known. He finished his answer. It was a glowing review. The conversation moved on. Then two minutes later, Bowden asked Moore directly: “Is there a chance he makes this team out of spring training?”
This time, Moore didn’t hold back. “He can,” Moore said. “We’re going to be very open-minded.” He continued, mentioning the club’s approach ahead of spring training. They hadn’t wanted to create an aura around Witt. They simply wanted to let him play. With that play, Moore said, Witt has garnered the respect of teammates.
“Now that he’s been able to do that,” Moore said, “I’m very much open-minded to him being on this team as we break this camp.”
This comment, in comparison to his first, was not par for the course. It was a chip-in eagle for Royals fans, as witnessed on social media, and it was an indicator as to why this situation, and the way Royals officials have responded to it, is — and I’ve never typed this word in this space — unique.
Take, for example, the Royals’ responses to pivotal questions about prospects 10 years ago. There was Mike Moustakas, the third base prospect who had tied the minor-league lead in home runs the year before. And there was Eric Hosmer, that year’s first-round pick from Florida. Both players competed in big-league camp. Both homered multiple times. Granted, each baseball player (and human) develops differently, but both players’ strong big-league futures were clear.
The Royals, though, kept their foot on the brakes. Officials explained the importance of their performances at Double A and Triple A to start the season. They explained how important April, May and June of that season would be. Assistant general manager J.J. Picollo told reporters, “They’ll tell us (by their performance) what their pace is,” but Hosmer posted a 1.470 OPS in 20 spring training at-bats; it wasn’t good enough.
So that’s the internal context to true differentiating elements of this current situation. In comparison to how other club executives have discussed top prospects in recent years, Moore’s comments seem even more jarring.
First, there’s the talking-down strategy Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins used. He had been asked in February 2019 about Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s big-league chances. He mentioned Guerrero’s defensive shortcomings and said: “I just don’t see him as a major-league player. He’s 19.”
Then there’s the “lack of playing time” excuse the New York Mets chose with Pete Alonso, who in 2018 posted a .975 OPS at Double A and Triple A. The Mets didn’t call up him, and here was the explanation from assistant general manager John Ricco: “He’s had an unbelievable season. He’s done everything we asked. … But the way we see it, the lack of playing time is a factor.”
Here’s how Alonso took that: “I’m not going to lie, it’s really disheartening and disappointing because of the things that people tell you is as long as you are successful, you’re going to be in the big leagues.”
Then there’s everyone’s favorite element: service time, which Minnesota Twins general manager Thad Levine explained bluntly in 2018 when asked about top prospect Byron Buxton: “I think part of our jobs is we’re supposed to be responsible to factoring service time into every decision we make. … We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we weren’t at least aware of service-time impacts on decisions we make.”
This, of course, is important context to the current situation. For those who ask what the Royals would gain from withholding a spot for Witt on Opening Day, it’d be an extra year of control for a small-market franchise that needs homegrown talent present for as long as possible. Yet here’s a question*: Why play a game over a few weeks if this is the type of franchise cornerstone you’d want to keep forever?
*The question is speculative: The most the Royals have spent is $72 million for Alex Gordon. Chairman and CEO John Sherman and his ownership group weren’t around then, but it’s still hard to imagine this club spending the type of money it might take to keep Witt around forever. (Never say never.)
Also in the backdrop of Moore’s comments are some different ideas. There’s a sample size element. Even Juan Soto, who debuted at 19 years old, had more than 450 plate appearances in the minors; Witt has only had 164. There’s a previous Royals history element. Adalberto Mondesi, who was the son of a former big-leaguer and had all the tools and skill, was pushed quickly and hasn’t been able to perform consistently. It’s something to think about. And maybe most important, there’s the psychological element both for Witt and the clubhouse.
After one of Witt’s home runs a few days ago, clubhouse vets such as Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier were tweeting about Witt. Danny Duffy has raved about him. Royals manager Mike Matheny, who is asked about him daily, can’t help but smirk. That is not solely a testament to Witt’s talent but also the way he carries himself.
Here’s how Bobby Stroupe, a performance consultant who worked with Witt this offseason and who also works with Patrick Mahomes, described it:
“He’s certain that’s about to happen and he doesn’t talk about it. He’s just got a smirk on his face.
No matter what we’re about to do, he’s about to do it better than anybody there. And it’s not a smart aleck thing.
You can feel energy from it. He’s a natural alpha in a way that’s not threatening. That was very easy to pick up on.”
Moore’s comments, combined with Witt’s spring training performance (a .919 OPS with three homers and seven RBIs in 33 at-bats), now have the hype at an all-time high. How will Witt handle it? This is yet another test. Each scout we’ve spoken to thinks Witt will force his way into this team at some point in 2021, but for now there are two more elements to consider.
The first drifts back to Hosmer, whom the Royals promoted in May 2011. Then-Royals first baseman Kila Ka’aihue had been struggling. Hosmer was raking. After Moore made the call he said this to reporters: “You want to have as much competition as possible, and you’ve got to have guys pushing.” In this case, the Royals have a second baseman, Nicky Lopez, who is a Gold Glove-caliber defender. Even after swing changes this offseason, he has a .417 OPS and 10 strikeouts in 24 at-bats. That’s not going to play; although maybe these comments light a fire for him.
Which brings us to the final piece of the puzzle.
Time and time again this offseason, after the club showcased a winning culture with the decision to pay minor-leaguers, the Royals have talked about their desire to win games in 2021. The talk was backed up by actions when they signed Mike Minor, Carlos Santana, Greg Holland and Michael A. Taylor. It was backed up by the trade for Andrew Benintendi. It has been backed up by how hard the club has played since spring training began.
Now here’s another opportunity. The factors at play are aplenty. But the possibility that Witt could break camp with the club now is clear.
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