Royals Win, Witt Jr. Injured
Kansas City Royals defeat Twins 6-5; Bobby Witt Jr. exits game with knee soreness.
The Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Sunday to take three of four games in the series — but the win came with a scare. Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. left the game in the seventh inning with right knee soreness, sending fans into panic mode, according to AP News.
Witt finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts before being pulled. The Royals now sit at 27-39 — 13 games under .500 — and the health of their franchise cornerstone is the only thing anyone is talking about, per Essential Sports.
Marte's Big Swing and Cameron's Quiet Gem
Before the late drama, the Royals built their lead the old-fashioned way. Designated hitter Starling Marte launched a three-run homer in the fifth inning to push the score to 5-1. It was his first home run of the 2026 season, according to CBS Sports.
Starting pitcher Noah Cameron was nearly untouchable. He threw six innings, gave up just three hits, and allowed only one unearned run while striking out seven batters. Cameron earned his third win of the season. The Royals looked firmly in control — until the ninth, per Yahoo Sports.
Twins Rally in Ninth Before Erceg Slams the Door
Minnesota refused to go quietly. Twins first baseman Josh Bell hit a three-run home run — his sixth of the season — off reliever Beck Way to suddenly make it a 6-5 game. The Royals' lead nearly vanished in a matter of minutes, according to AP News.
Closer Lucas Erceg came in and got the final out. He retired Brooks Lee on a fly ball with a runner on second base to seal the win. It was Erceg's 12th save of the season. He has converted 12 of 18 save chances in 2026, per CBS Sports.
Witt's Knee Puts Kansas City's Season on Edge
Bobby Witt Jr. is the Royals' best player — and arguably their entire offense. He entered Sunday batting .284 with an .822 OPS and leading all of MLB with 23 stolen bases. He had played every game of the season before this one, according to Essential Sports.
After his third strikeout in the seventh inning, Witt visibly limped back to the dugout. The team officially announced he had right knee soreness. Maikel Garcia shifted to shortstop, and Michael Massey entered at second base to fill the gap, per AP News.
What's Next: Off-Day Buys Time, But Questions Linger
The Royals have a scheduled off-day Monday, June 8. That extra rest is seen as crucial. It gives the medical staff time to evaluate Witt before Kansas City opens a home series Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. The team called him "day-to-day" for now, according to AP News.
If Witt lands on the injured list, Maikel Garcia is the likely everyday shortstop. The Royals' playoff odds were already slim at around 6.8% before the injury. A long absence from their franchise player could push the front office toward selling at the July trade deadline, per Essential Sports.
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