KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals has made history by becoming the first shortstop in major league history to achieve multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Witt accomplished this feat by stealing second base in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

Witt, who is just 24 years old, has hit 31 homers this season, including a grand slam in the series-opener on Monday night, to go along with 30 stolen bases. Last season, he had 49 steals and hit the homer he needed to reach 30 with only three games left.

Not only did Witt make history with his 30-30 season, but he also became the first player to achieve this milestone in their first three years in the big leagues. Such a performance has only been accomplished by six other players in their first three seasons.

Selected as the second overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft, Witt signed an 11-year deal with the Royals in the offseason, making it the biggest deal in franchise history. The contract will eventually pay him $288,777,777, including a $7,777,777 signing bonus, which is a nod to his jersey number 7 that has become iconic among Kansas City fans.

The Royals are currently in a strong position for an AL wild-card spot and are aiming to catch Cleveland in the division standings. Witt’s outstanding performance has been a driving force behind the team’s turnaround from a 106-loss season last year.

Witt leads the majors with 200 hits, a .332 batting average, and 112 runs scored. Only legends like Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, and Rod Carew have led in all three categories in a single season.

Apart from his exceptional performance on the field, Witt has brought a contagious enthusiasm to the team, reviving the spirit of the Royals and their fans.

This summer, Witt’s rising stardom was on full display during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Although he reached the finals, Witt narrowly lost to Teoscar Hernández in a thrilling finale.

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