Royals phenom Bobby Witt Jr.'s 2022 goals: Start season in the majors – and get his own sunflower seed flavor
Scouts showed up in droves at Colleyville Heritage High School games in 2019 to watch one of the top prospects in the upcoming draft, Bobby Witt Jr.
The best way to keep the pressure off, Witt realized, was to win.
"My ultimate goal was to win a state championship at that time," Witt recalled. "So that took away all that pressure."
The week the Kansas City Royals selected him No. 2 overall in the 2019 draft, Witt and his teammates won the Texas 5A state title.
“I think it came from just a young age, always having pressure on me. Taking away that pressure was going out there and performing. I think if you perform under pressure that makes the game a lot easier," Witt told Paste BN Sports via Zoom. "That also comes with the preparation. I feel like if you make your work harder than the game, that makes the game easier. So that’s kind of what I’ve done.”
Last year in spring training, Witt said he felt a similar pressure return – the need to do more.
"When really, I didn't," he said.
Witt went on to hit .290 with 35 doubles, 33 home runs, 97 RBI, 29 stolen bases and a .936 OPS between Classes AA Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha. He was named Paste BN Sports' Minor League Player of the Year.
"So this year just coming in knowing I got to be myself and just help the team," said Witt, the son of 16-year MLB pitcher Bobby Witt. "And win."
Losing isn't something Witt particularly enjoys, and the Royals haven't had a winning season since the team won the World Series in 2015.
Kansas City putting Witt, named the top prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline this week, on its opening roster would signal an effort to turn the tide.
“That’d be a dream come true, pretty much – ultimate goal to do that," Witt said when asked about breaking camp with the big-league club. "I feel like in ways, because the Royals have had up-and-down seasons, I can help the team. That’s really what I want to do. Just what they’ve done (in 2014 and 2015), seeing the team like that is unbelievable. I hate losing so I want to help as much as I can to help the team win. I feel like maybe there’s a fit there where I can help and that’s how my mentality is set.”
Through six spring training games, Witt already has two monster homers and is 7-for-16 with 5 RBI.
Witt spoke to Paste BN through his partnership with Chinook Seedery, a brand he began following on Instagram in high school. Partnering with a Texas-based (Austin) company was important to Witt, and he's also shareholder.
When Witt saw Chinook brands in Royals' locker rooms, he was delighted. Witt even spent a weekend at headquarters this offseason.
"I’ve had seeds my whole life," Witt said. "Knowing what actually goes behind it, it was really cool.
Chinook is collaborating with Witt on a new flavor due out later this year. A fan of both Texas and Kansas City barbecue, Witt said the flavor could have chicken-wing inspiration, or a "Whataburger-type thing." It's a secret for now, though.
"We've got some good stuff coming," he said.
On and off the field.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.