Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had to leave Thursday night’s home game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning after experiencing discomfort in his right knee.
Witt had been productive at the plate before the injury, connecting for a home run and driving in a run with a single during his first two trips to the plate. The trouble came while he was chasing down a ground ball hit into the hole by Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker in the top of the fourth inning. Witt struggled to get back on his feet but managed to finish out the inning defensively.
When the Royals came up to bat in the bottom of the fourth, Tyler Tolbert stepped in as a pinch hitter for Witt, signaling he was done for the evening. This isn’t the first time knee soreness has cut Witt’s night short — he also left a game early on June 7 against the Minnesota Twins, though he returned to the starting lineup the very next game after a scheduled day off. Witt is hitting .294 on the season with 10 home runs and has appeared in all 76 of Kansas City’s games this year.
The Royals are already navigating a crowded injury report. The team is currently without Vinnie Pasquantino due to a right hand injury, Kyle Isbel with plantar fasciitis, Jonathan India with a left shoulder injury, and pitchers Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic, both sidelined with left elbow problems. All-Star Maikel Garcia is listed as day-to-day with a left hand issue. On a more positive note, veteran right-hander Seth Lugo is expected to take the mound Friday for the first time since being struck in the forehead by a line drive on June 10.
