Bobby Witt Jr.

For the second consecutive year and for the fourth time since 2022, Shohei Ohtani was named as the best player in baseball by MLB Network entering the 2026 season. Ohtani beat out Aaron Judge for a second consecutive year, with Bobby Witt Jr. once again placing third behind the pair of two-time reigning MVPs. Ohtani [ ]

Team USA already has both Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson rostered, so the assumption is that Handerson would play third base. Obviously, the team now has another strong option there if Henderson proves shaky. Or perhaps Mark DeRosa will just bypass Henderson altogether and go with the safe choice at the hot corner.

"We want a neutral ballpark where if you hit a ball well, it should be a home run," said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo. According to Stacast's Park Factors, Kauffman Stadium ranked 6th in baseball as an offensive park. However, this ranking was largely due to its having the second-largest outfield in baseball, which promotes doubles and triples. It ranked 25th in baseball as a home run park, which is the fourth-lowest mark of any stadium that has been in use for at least the last three seasons. The team will keep centerfield at 410 feet, but will shorten the power alleys from 389 feet to 379 feet, and "the fences will continue on that path, 9 to 10 feet shorter, nearly all the way to the corners." This will not only help established power hitters like Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez hit more home runs, but should be a nice boost for young players with plus power like Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen. However, batting average hitters with fringe power, like Isaac Collins and Jonathan India, may see a slight regression with a smaller outfield for extra base hits to fall in.