The Kansas City Royals hit a nerve-wracking moment on Wednesday when their star shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr., took a painful hit by pitch to the forearm, forcing him out of the game against the Seattle Mariners. Although Witt is on a brief pause, the Royals are taking a prudent approach with the American League MVP runner-up from last year.

This kind of absence could sideline their 2025 postseason ambitions—a scenario they certainly want to avoid. However, there is a silver lining as Witt remains in good spirits, even mentioning on Thursday feeling a tad better.

“There’s a nerve there, and the feeling just went down,” Witt commented. “But everything’s good.

I’ve been hit a lot, up and in, which is kind of annoying, but it’s part of the game.”

This development brings a sigh of relief to the Royals. Losing Witt would seriously derail their aspirations for a deeper postseason experience this October.

Yet, the star shortstop’s upbeat attitude is a positive sign, despite the alarming incident on the field. Witt is undeniably the X-factor for the Royals as they set their sights on 2025, with much of their success resting on his output.

Just last season, he posted an impressive .332/.389/.588 slash line, with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, a .977 OPS, and a 9.4 WAR.

At 24, Witt has already etched his name among the elite, making his first All-Star appearance and winning a batting title. Adding to his accolades are a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. With Opening Day looming, Royals fans certainly have their fingers crossed that Witt will be back to spearhead their lineup.