How did he hit that out?! Witt takes a pitch 4.07 feet high off the ground deep
It’s no secret Bobby Witt Jr. has been on an absolute tear, slashing an absurd .453/.505/.832 with a 1.337 OPS since the All-Star break. The 24-year-old Royals superstar added a new feat to his résumé on Wednesday against the Twins at Target Field with a particularly impressive homer.
Witt hit an elevated fastball — an out-of-the-zone elevated fastball — to the visiting bullpen for his 24th home run of the season. The 97 mph fastball was 4.07 feet above the ground, the highest pitch hit for a homer by a Royals player since 2008 when tracking became available.
“I think when you’re on time, you can do a lot of good things,” Witt said. “So just trying to be on time with the pitch and just let things happen.”
Witt’s home run against a pitch 4.07 feet above the ground made it the third-highest pitch hit for a home run this season, excluding against position players — like Matt Chapman’s home run against a pitch 4.18 feet off the ground on a 43.3 mph fastball from Ben Rortvedt on April 13. Only CJ Abrams ( 4.42 feet on Aug. 6) and Ernie Clement (4.21 feet on April 21) hit home runs against higher pitches that weren’t considered lobs by a non-pitcher.
Witt’s home run was even more impressive considering he did so against a 97 mph heater. In the Statcast era (since 2015), Witt’s home run against a pitch 4.07 feet off the ground is tied for the 10th-highest home run on a pitch thrown 95-plus mph.
“That’s what I always try to be ready for, the fastball,” Witt said. “I was ready for that one.”
Before Wednesday’s home run, the highest pitch Witt homered against was a 96.9 mph fastball from Bryan Abreu on April 11 this season that was 3.73 feet off the ground.