The New York Yankees will host wildcard series winners Kansas City Royals at the Yankee Stadium this weekend to compete in the American League Division Series (ALDS). While the Yanks are coming off a five-day rest, the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles to advance into the first stage of playoffs.
Having said that, the Royals will be starting as underdogs against the New York Yankees, who finished as AL’s top seed and were crowned division champions. However, regardless of the steep challenge, Royals’ superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr will use one of Yankee’s own tactics to dominate the ALDS matchups.
Bobby Witt Jr Reveals Derek Jeter Being His Childhood Hero
The Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees are set to face off in the American League Division Series (ALDS) on Saturday, a clash that marks a critical point for both teams. After sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card Series, the Royals now face the top-seeded Yanks, led by Aaron Judge. At the center of the Royals’ playoff hopes is star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who has taken a unique approach in preparing for the high-pressure atmosphere of Yankee Stadium in October. In a conversation with reporters on Friday, Witt shared that he’s drawing inspiration from one of his childhood heroes, i., Derek Jeter. Known for his clutch postseason performances, Jeter has long been a role model for Witt.
Moreover, the Royals’ shortstop spent time the night before the ALDS watching Jeter’s iconic moments. The decision to watch Jeter highlights came during a train ride from Baltimore to New York, with Witt hoping to get a sense of the intensity and energy of Yankee Stadium in the postseason. Witt still has a Jeter jersey hanging in his childhood bedroom, a reminder of the legacy he’s now trying to emulate. “I just wanted to get a feel of what the crowd’s going to be like and get in the right mindset for the game,” Witt said. Having said that, as the Royals’ emerging star, Witt will need to channel his inner Jeter if Kansas City is to have a chance in this series. Notably, he was a consistent offensive performer for the Royals in the Wild Card Series, driving in two of the three runs the team scored, including the game-winning run in Game 2.
Bobby Witt Eager To Face Yankees Ace In ALDS
The stakes will rise significantly for Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals on Saturday as they face New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the AL Division Series. Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, represents one of the toughest challenges in baseball, and Witt is eager for the opportunity to compete on such a grand stage.
“This is the fun part of the game,” Witt said. Notably, Witt, who has been a standout for the Royals throughout the season, now has the chance to make his mark in the postseason. Going up against a pitcher like Cole in the pressure-filled environment of Yankee Stadium is exactly the type of challenge that players like Witt dream of.
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