Kansas City heads to New York with a chance to make its mark on the baseball world -- and a once "abhorred" rival.

NEW YORK — Bobby Witt Jr. sounded like a postseason vet as he fielded questions from reporters in the press conference room at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The 24-year-old was one sleep away from the biggest test of his young career — a showdown with the Yankees in his American League Division Series debut — and he was saying all the right things.

For much of the 2024 season, the American League MVP discussion centered around two players: Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. Each had fantastic seasons in his own right. Judge propelled the New York Yankees (94-68) with a .