Bobby Witt Jr. Plays Through EVERYTHING, But This Knee Injury Could Finally Break the Royals

Man, talk about a gut punch. You gotta feel for some of these guys in the league, even the ones not rocking the Mariners' colors. Last night, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had to leave their game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning because of right knee discomfort. This isn't just some random dude, either. Witt Jr. is one of those players who seemingly never stops, but this time, it felt different.

Witt Jr. Goes Down After a Hot Start

The dude was absolutely on fire before he had to exit. Witt Jr. started the night with a homer and an RBI single in his first two at-bats, showing off that pure talent. But then, in the top of the fourth, while fielding a grounder in the hole hit by St. Louis' Jordan Walker, something gave. He got to his feet real slow, you could tell he was hurting, but he toughing it out and finished the inning. That's the kind of grit you respect, right? But the writing was on the wall. When the Royals came up in the bottom of the frame, Tyler Tolbert was pinch-hitting for Witt. No bueno. This isn't the first time Witt Jr. has dealt with knee soreness this season, either. He even left a game early on June 7 against the Twins. But get this, after just one off day, he was right back in the lineup for the next game. The guy has played all 76 games this season. Think about that for a second. He's batting .294 with 10 homers, a huge part of their squad. To see him finally unable to shake i

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

t off, it just makes you wonder what's really going on with that knee.

A Team Already Gutted by Injuries

This is where it gets really tough for the Royals. They're already absolutely ravaged by injuries. We're talking about a lineup of key guys on the IL: Vinnie Pasquantino is out with a right hand issue, Kyle Isbel is dealing with plantar fasciitis, and Jonathan India has a left shoulder problem. And their pitching staff? Also banged up, with Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic both out with left elbow issues. On top of that, their All-Star Maikel Garcia is currently day-to-day with a left hand issue. It's a miracle they've fielded a team some nights! There is one small silver lining for KC, maybe? Veteran right-hander Seth Lugo is slated to start on Friday. That's his first start since June 10, when he took a line drive to the forehead. Yeah, you read that right. A line drive to the forehead. It just goes to show you the kind of season they're having. Witt Jr. going down with a recurring knee issue right now, when the team is already hobbling, feels like it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for their season. For us in the Emerald City, it was good to see our Mariners take care of business, shutting out the Baltimore Orioles 3-0. But you gotta keep an eye on these stories across the league. Witt Jr. and the Royals are playing tomorrow, with Lugo on the mound, and you just know everyone will be watching to see if their star shortstop can somehow make another quick return, or if this is the injury that finally catches up to him.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.