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.
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Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and starter Michael Wacha were named American League All-Stars on Saturday night ahead of the Royals’ 6-1 series-opening loss to the Phillies at Kauffman Stadium.
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 pregame Saturday. The players could guess that Witt’s name was going to be called and still gave a big applause for their shortstop. Everyone was “fired up” for Wacha, though, Witt said, and so was Wacha.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Wacha said postgame Saturday. “I was hoping that you get the nod for it, but once [Quatraro] announced my name, I was definitely excited. Incredible honor to be able to be a part of that, [to] be able to walk into that clubhouse and represent this organization and my family.”
The 35-year-old has certainly earned it. After allowing four runs in six innings against the Phillies on Saturday, Wacha’s 3.45 ERA ranks 14th in the AL, and he leads the league in innings with 114 2/3 across his 18 starts. Even in a game like Saturday, in which all four runs he allowed came on three homers, Wacha showed why he’s so important to the Royals, still tossing 105 pitches across six innings and withstanding a 29-pitch first inning and 24-pitch fourth.
“Same thing we say about him every time,” Quatraro said. “He takes the ball, he goes and competes against a really good lineup. Kept us in the game. Tough night for the offense, but four runs, you got a chance to stay in the game. … He gives up a couple of runs and just keeps coming at them.”
“Their guy was really good over there today,” Wacha added of Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, who struck out nine in six innings. “Sometimes you got to match them, and I didn’t do that today.”
Wacha hasn’t made the All-Star Game since 2015, becoming just the third player, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, to have 10 or more seasons between All-Star selections, joining Schoolboy Rowe (10, 1936-47) and Bert Blyleven (11, 1973-85).
“Definitely waited long enough, for sure,” Wacha said.
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 become one of the most steady and reliable starters in the league as a member of the Royals’ rotation the past three seasons. Quatraro called him a “team favorite.” It doesn’t take long to realize how much he’s revered around that clubhouse, either.
“That one was a surprise,” Quatraro said. “[The clubhouse] 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 .286/.358/.823 slash line.
Michael Wacha, RHP
• Previous All-Star appearances: 1 (2015)
• Something to know: He recorded his 1,500th career strikeout on June 27, becoming the 17th active pitcher to reach that milestone. With seven more punchouts Saturday, Wacha is up to 1,507 in his career.
“The miles that he’s done – it’s special,” Witt said. “It’s an honor. He deserves every piece of it.”