Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Jacob Wilson: Battle Lines Drawn for MLB All-Star Roster Showdown

In last season, Kansas City Royals star player Bobby Witt Jr. stood out among the competitive group of skilled shortstops, delivering top-tier statistics compared to others at his position and earning elite recognition. Witt concluded his acclaimed 2024 season with a remarkable performance, boasting a .332/.389/.588 slash line along with 32 home runs and 31 stolen bases, also securing a Gold Glove Award. His .332 batting average and 211 hits were leading figures across Major League Baseball. Had it not been for the overwhelming presence of Aaron Judge’s offensive prowess, Witt likely would have claimed the title of American League Most Valuable Player.

This year, Witt is well on track for yet another impressive season; however, he isn’t leading solo anymore. The Athletics’ shortstop, Jacob Wilson—a strong contender for American League Rookie of the Year—has emerged dramatically. This development raises an intriguing query: Could it be that Witt might no longer hold the title as baseball’s premier shortstop?

Even though we lack an entire season’s statistics for Wilson, this issue will become prominent as MLB All-Star voting commences. Although All-Star votes aren’t always precise indicators of players’ abilities, they do offer a legitimate gauge of how these athletes perform at a specific moment in time.

During the previous MLB All-Star season, Witt narrowly missed out on securing the starting AL shortstop position, which went instead to Gunnar Henderson. Although both players had similar performances, Henderson’s impressive power hitting tipped the scales in his favor compared to Witt’s higher batting average.

This leads us to our current point in time. Were the All-Star voting concluded today, which player would secure the starting position in the American League: Witt or Wilson? Let’s examine their statistics (advanced metrics sourced from
FanGraphs
):

This debate surely won’t hinge on either candidate’s home run count since both boast five each. Witt undoubtedly shines as the superior fielder, topping all shortstops in defensive Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Additionally, he excels on the bases, amassing 2.7 runs above average due to his adeptness at taking advantage of opportunities. Furthermore, Witt outperforms Wilson in slugging percentage by collecting more extra-base hits. On the contrary, Wilson demonstrates greater skill in making contact and reaching base, evidenced by his balanced strikeout-to-walk ratio of one (with precisely 10 walks and 10 strikeouts).

At present, this upcoming All-Star lineup competition is essentially a 50-50 chance. Considering their performances from last year, you might lean towards predicting Witt securing a starting position. However, as of today, neither player clearly dominates the other. Nonetheless, we have quite some time until the Summer Classic, so many things can still change.

So far, both players have been performing at an all-star level. If they maintain their current form, this competition for spots on the team will certainly be one to watch closely.

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