Summary: Bobby Witt Jr. has established himself as the Kansas City Royals’ most electric player of the modern era, crafting a season that could rank among the franchise’s best. With Cal Raleigh leading the AL MVP race and Witt nestled in a strong position behind him, Witt’s all-around game—speed, defense, and contact—continues to distinguish him from one of baseball’s top sluggers, Aaron Judge.
Bobby Witt Jr. is widely regarded as the Royals’ best player of the past thirty years, and his 2025 season is shaping up as one of the franchise’s most impressive individual campaigns. The Texas native has already posted a top-15 fWAR figure for a Royals season, underscoring why he’s the centerpiece of Kansas City’s rebuild and a perennial highlight at Kauffman Stadium.
Though Hall of Famer George Brett’s MVP years and Carlos Beltrán’s peak years still loom large in club lore, Witt’s path this season is tracing its own high arc. With a month remaining, Witt’s production positions him among the franchise’s elite single-season performances, reinforcing that the Royals truly have a star at shortstop.
In 2024, Witt was a clear MVP contender before falling short in the award race, a gap many attributed to the magnitude of Aaron Judge’s power surge that year. Judge’s numerical dominance—more than anything—carried the day, even as Witt offered a more complete two-way profile.
Turning the page to 2025, Witt and Judge again sit among the AL MVP frontrunners, though Cal Raleigh’s breakout season in Seattle has become a focal point of the race. With fewer than 30 games left in the regular season, the latest MVP rankings place Raleigh atop the list, with Judge slipping and Witt remaining in the mix in third.
That shift in the MVP landscape comes as Witt has surged after the All-Star break. He enters the series finale against the White Sox riding a 15-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in MLB. His second-half 136 wRC+ is strong, nearly matching his season average and signaling that his production is trending in the right direction.
Judge, by contrast, has seen a noticeable dip since the All-Star break. After a torrid first half (271 wRC+), Judge has posted a 112 wRC+ and a .202 batting average over 27 games since the break. It’s a dramatic swing for a hitter of his caliber, though it’s worth noting the eye test and defensive positioning have evolved over the season.
The comparison between Witt and Judge often comes down to the whole-package value Witt brings. Witt remains the more well-rounded hitter, while Judge’s elite power continues to add to his overall value. Witt is hitting a robust .307/.376/.493 since the All-Star break, a testament to his contact skills and patience at the plate. And when it comes to base-running, Witt has been exceptional: 34 stolen bases through 131 games, ranking among the league’s top baserunners and second in the AL in steals. Baseball Savant’s BR metric has Witt tied for fourth in the league at +6, a clear edge over Judge’s BR of -3, which sits among the league’s least efficient baserunners.
Defensively, Judge’s move from center field to right field has helped his metrics, but Witt’s position at shortstop remains one of the game’s most demanding, where his range and glove play a critical role for Kansas City. The contrast between a shortstop and a right fielder in a hitter-friendly ballpark underscores how raw numbers can be shaped by position and surroundings, even as both players influence games in different but equally important ways.
Raleigh’s ascendancy in the MVP race puts him in the driver’s seat, but Witt’s continued production keeps the door ajar for a late-season surge that could yield a meaningful “moral victory” if he can overtake Judge in the voting. For Royals fans, Witt’s sustained impact in 2025 provides clear evidence that Kansas City owns a potential cornerstone for the next era of the franchise.
What this means for Kansas City and Witt
– Witt’s multi-dimensional game makes him a rare asset: a top-tier hitter who can steal bases and play elite shortstop defense. That combination is especially valuable for a club rebuilding around young talent.
– As Raleigh leads the MVP race, Witt’s best path to national recognition may lie in finishing the season strong and helping the Royals win later in the year, reinforcing his status as a franchise centerpiece.
– If Witt maintains his current trajectory, expect renewed discussions about his long-term role with the Royals and potential extensions that reflect his two-way impact and leadership on and off the field.
Additional notes and context
– Witt’s late-season surge demonstrates resilience and an ability to perform in clutch moments, a trait Royals fans have hoped to see from their young core.
– The ongoing debate between Witt and Judge highlights how the game’s value is measured not only by power but also by speed, defense, and overall contribution to an offense and defense.
Bottom line
Bobby Witt Jr. remains the most influential player for Kansas City in the modern era, with a season that could rank among franchise bests. While Cal Raleigh currently leads the AL MVP race and Judge experiences a mid-to-late-season drop, Witt’s combination of hitting, baserunning, and defense keeps him in the conversation. The final stretch of the season will be critical in determining whether Witt can edge toward an MVP narrative or secure a lasting legacy as the Royals’ premier two-way star of this era. If he can ride this momentum into October, the optimism around Kansas City’s future will only grow sharper.