Two KC leaders tapped for 2nd All-Star nods as Witt, Wacha named to ‘26 roster

KANSAS CITY – One is a generational shortstop who makes jaw-dropping plays daily for the Royals and has grown into one of the faces of the game. The other is a seasoned veteran pitcher who has seen it all in his 14 big league seasons.

Their lockers are right next to each other in the corner of the Royals’ clubhouse, a location that signifies their importance and leadership in the organization.

And they’ll both be headed to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game on July 14.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and starter Michael Wacha were named American League All-Stars on Saturday night as part of the All-Star Selection Show on FOX. Witt was named the AL’s starting shortstop by winning the fan vote and now joins Fred Patek (1978) and Alcides Escobar (2015) as the only Royals to win fan elections at shortstop.

“It’s an honor,” Witt said. “Being able to get this opportunity. Just thankful for all the fans and everyone who voted.”

It was a near given that Witt would earn his first starting nod this year based on how the fan vote was playing out over the last week, as the 26-year-old enjoyed a commanding lead over Toronto’s Andrés Giménez. Witt didn’t pay attention to much of that … unless his mom Laurie brought it up.

“I just went based off of what my mom was saying,” Witt said. “I didn’t look at it at all. She was like, ‘Oh, you’re leading the vote,’ this and that. I was like, ‘All right, thanks Mom.’”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro made the All-Star announcement to the team before its series opener against the Phillies on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. The players could guess that Witt’s name was going to be called, but Wacha’s was a different story.

The 35-year-old has certainly earned it with his 3.31 ERA and league-leading 108 2/3 innings entering Saturday’s start against the Phillies, but one never knows. Wacha hasn’t made the All-Star Game since 2015 – marking a 10-year gap between appearances. Since that last appearance – when he was 23 years old as a member of the Cardinals – Wacha has played for five different teams, but has since become one of the most steady and reliable starters in the league as a member of the Royals’ rotation the past three seasons.

“That one was a surprise,” Quatraro said. “They didn’t know that was coming. To see the genuine reaction and care for their teammate – that was really heartwarming. … You see how well he’s done on the field, and to evolve across the course of his career, we’re exceptionally proud of him, and grateful to be a part of his career.”

Bobby Witt Jr., SS
• Previous All-Star appearances: 2 (2024, ‘25)
• Something to know: He leads AL position players with a 4.5 fWAR and 29 stolen bases while posting a .290/.362/.470 slash line entering Saturday night.

Michael Wacha, RHP
• Previous All-Star appearances: 1 (2015)
• Something to know: This is Wacha’s second All-Star appearance of his career, but the first since 2015. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two previous players went 10-plus seasons between All-Star selections: Bert Blyleven (11 years, 1973-85) and Schoolboy Rowe (10, 1936-47).

“The miles that he’s done – it’s special,” Witt said. “It’s an honor. He deserves every piece of it.”