Bobby Witt Jr., the Kansas City Royals’ franchise player and two-time All-Star shortstop, suffered a Grade 1 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters in Kansas City.
Witt will not play in the team’s game Friday, June 19 against the St. Louis Cardinals and, with the club off Saturday, he will be reevaluated Sunday, Quatraro said. While Witt seemed to avoid more severe injury, Quatraro acknowledged a stint on the injured list is a possibility.
“It’s not a surgical thing,” Quatraro said, per MLB.com. “It’s going to be a lot of get the swelling out of there and understand how he feels. And those conversations are going to have to be honest between all of us.”
Witt injured the knee fielding an infield single in the top of the fourth inning Thursday, June 18 against St. Louis at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium. He stayed in the game but the Royals pinch-hit for their best player in the bottom of the inning and announced he was removed due to right knee discomfort. He underwent further imaging on the knee.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. rolls over after injuring his knee in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 18.
On his way to a third consecutive All-Star appearance, Witt, 26, leads the major leagues with 28 stolen bases, and is batting .290 with nine homers and an .815 OPS. He has won the past two American League Gold Gloves at shortstop.
Witt, whose 4.2 WAR is tied for first among AL players, is in the third year of an 11-year, $288 million contract, although he can opt out of the deal between 2031 and 2034. The Royals entered play Friday, June 19 with a 31-45 record and in fourth place in the AL Central.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bobby Witt Jr injury update: Royals star’s knee is diagnosed
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