GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The error in left field technically means that it wasn’t an inside-the-park home run.
How Bobby Witt Jr. handled the play still makes him a legitimate prospect.
The Royals’ No. 1 prospect -- and the No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- reached base and scored on an error in the eighth inning of the Royals’ 5-3 win over the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday night, showcasing almost everything that has propelled him to become one of the top prospects in baseball.
Witt put a solid swing on a ball that seemed destined for Reds left fielder Errol Robinson. But the ball kept carrying, and Robinson missed it off the top of his glove at the warning track. Witt began to fly then, rounding second as center fielder TJ Friedl fielded the ball and began to throw to the cutoff man.
Witt sped around third base as shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez turned and threw wildly to home plate, with the ball sailing over the catcher’s head as Witt slid safely -- Superman-like -- into home.
“That takes exceptional speed,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “The ball didn’t roll that far away from the outfielders. Exciting play. … It’s kind of strange how the ball carries off his bat because it didn’t look like he got it, and it just kind of carried and carried. And then we had a chance to watch him run.
“And it’s fun to watch him run.”
Witt has plus tools across the board, including his hit, power and speed tools. And he’s showing them off so far in spring -- as well as his defense -- with two hits and two RBIs in nine at-bats, with three runs scored and one walk. The second overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft has enormous potential in the big leagues, and the Royals rave about his makeup, instincts and passion for the game just as much as his tools.
Now those things are playing out for everyone to watch.
“There’s just a lot of things that he does that’s deceptive,” Matheny said. "We were out running some sprints the other day, and I think [shortstop Adalberto] Mondesi was the only one who had better times than he had. Looks like he’s running fast, but that’s really fast. Same way with how the ball comes off his bat, same way he throws the ball across the infield. It looks effortless, but it has some quickness and carry."
Veteran arms at work
Danny Duffy and Ervin Santana had the first four innings Thursday night, giving the Royals two experienced arms to start against the Reds. Duffy allowed one run off two hits in two innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He battled through a long first inning, facing six batters, but that allowed him to work on some of the pitches that he’s set out to work on.
Duffy said that he threw more changeups to left-handed hitters than he typically would, and was pleased with how his slider looked, especially against left-handed slugger Joey Votto.
“I don’t think it’s ever been this good, this early,” Duffy said. “I didn’t stop throwing, so I think that plays into what I’m doing here right now. I was able to go front door on a slider to Joey Votto, and that’s kind of right into the fire with that, because I’ve been working on that pitch for a long time. So to see the result I had on that, I was very happy with where I was.”
Santana, in his second spring game, allowed two runs on three hits in two innings.
Mondesí moving in right direction
Mondesí, who has yet to play in a Cactus League game this spring, is progressing well with a sore foot after getting hit in live batting practice before camp began.
Matheny said that Mondesí ran the bases and practiced sliding Thursday in preparation for a potential start later this week. He’s been taking batting practice and participating in fielding drills all week, but the Royals want to be cautious with him, especially this early in spring.
Good night at Goodyear
The Royals showcased a number of solid aspects during their win, including:
? Andrew Benintendi knocked his first hit as a Royal with a rocket to the right-field wall in the fourth inning, landing for a double. The left fielder has been working on the mechanics of his swing to get back to how he felt in 2018, and the swing that he put on the double was smooth and efficient -- right where he wants it.
? Ryan O’Hearn has two hits in seven at-bats this spring, and both have been home runs. The left-handed hitter launched a homer off Reds starter Sonny Gray in the second inning.
? Nick Pratto, the Royals’ No. 11 prospect, made loud contact with his home run right after Witt Jr. scored. The first baseman has had a hot start to spring, with a double and a home run in five games, which is encouraging to the Royals as Pratto has struggled with his offense since being drafted in 2017.
Pratto looked like a different player at the Royals’ alternate training site last year, hitting more home runs than any player in camp and making consistent hard contact to the opposite field. He’s only built on that so far this spring.
“It’s a pretty swing path,” Matheny said. “He’s in a good, good place.”
? Shortstop Jeison Guzmán laid down an excellent two-out squeeze bunt in the seventh inning, scoring Edward Olivares from third.