Kansas Metropolis Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is having a profession 12 months, hitting a league-leading .347 with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 19 house runs and 75 RBI via Monday.
In 58 video games this season at Kauffman Stadium, house of the Royals, Witt is producing bonkers numbers — a .405 batting common, .458 on-base share, .716 slugging share and 1.149 OPS.
Away from house, the Royals star faces larger challenges. In 49 video games, he is hitting .283 with a .315 on-base share, .468 slugging share and .783 OPS.
He has struck out far much less (28 to 45) and walked considerably extra (22 to eight) at house than away. Much more eye-popping: he has struck out 11.2 % of the time at house however 20.5 % on the highway.
Witt shouldn’t be alone in these excessive splits.
The Royals collectively hit higher, stroll extra and strike out much less at house versus on the highway, in accordance with Baseball Reference. Courting to 2021, these numbers have remained pretty constant for the Royals (58-49), who’re third within the American League Central.
Earlier than making the leap into Houston Astros trash-can-banging conspiracy theories — do not forget that from 2017-18? — there appears to be a believable rationalization for these excessive hitting discrepancies.
The Royals’ house ballpark ranks third in Park Issue, in accordance with Statcast, that means it offers a substantial benefit to hitters in comparison with different parks in Main League Baseball.
In three seasons within the huge leagues, Witt has house/away splits which are pretty constant. Nevertheless, many extra eyes are on him now that he is enjoying MVP-caliber baseball.
Witt is competing for the American League MVP award in opposition to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Decide and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Decide, whereas nonetheless a barely higher hitter at Yankee Stadium, has almost even splits house and away. In the meantime, Henderson is a greater hitter on the highway.
Neither has as drastic a distinction of their splits as Witt, who has the second-best AL MVP odds, per FanDuel.
Witt’s stats are eyebrow-raising, however in his case, the house park appears to provide him an enormous edge.
