"He needs come to every game" - Bobby Witt Jr. shouts out to 'dude in front row' who called the Royals All-Star's cycle bid

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. continued his remarkable output following the All-Star break. The 2024 All-Star came agonizingly close to a historic feat during his team's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

Witt Jr. fell just a single short of hitting for the cycle during his team's emphatic 10-4 victory over the Snakes. During the post-game interview, the 24-year-old shortstop shared an interesting incident at the start of the game.

The Royals star identified a fan in the front rows who called Witt Jr. going for the cycle during his first at-bats. As the star shortstop fell short of the rare feat, he joked the fan should come to every game as his good luck charm.

He said:

"It was kind of funny because some guy in the front row said, 'you hit for the cycle,' or something at my first at-bat. And after the first three at-bats I was like 'dang this dude needs to come to every game.' It's pretty cool."

During his first three at-bats in Monday's game, Bobby Witt Jr. registered a triple, a double and a three-run home run. However, he was hit by a pitch in his fourth plate appearance and flied out in his last two at-bats.

Torey Lovullo rubishes claims of intentionally hitting Bobby Witt Jr.

The game hit boiling point after Witt Jr. was hit by a pitch as the Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno was also hit in the following inning, most likely retaliation for the earlier incident.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was incensed by the incident and rushed to the diamond. He was ejected from the game after a heated exchange with the umpires.

Following the game Lovullo called out the accusation against the team for intentionally hitting Witt Jr.

"If you think in your right mind that I was going to ask our team to hit the future of Major League Baseball — one of the best players in Major League Baseball — you're crazy," Lovullo said. ... "He's an unbelievable player, and I would never ever endorse hitting another player."

Bobby Witt Jr. has now registered three hits in four consecutive games. His previous three games against the Chicago White Sox saw him crowned the AL Player of the Week for a second time this season.