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Royals Announce Bobby Witt Jr. Decision After Loss to Cubs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin M. Groe | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 1:56 PM ET

Superstar Bobby Witt Jr. is in his fourth season with the Kansas City Royals after being selected second overall in the 2019 MLB Draft.

The 25-year-old shortstop emerged as one of baseball's most well-rounded talents last year. Witt was selected to his first All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award along with a second-place finish in American League MVP voting. Over 161 games last year, Witt led all of baseball with 211 hits and a .332 batting average.

He also brought Kansas City back to the postseason for the first time since they won a World Series title in 2015.

Last night, Witt’s leg buckled during a plate appearance. Manager Matt Quatraro said Witt felt something in his knee afterward but insisted “it was nothing.”

As a precaution, the team held him out of the lineup for the series finale against the Chicago Cubs.

Bobby Witt Jr. gets the day off. His leg buckled during a plate appearance last night and Matt Quatraro said Witt felt something in his knee but said “it was nothing.” https://t.co/0W4K2KpJ1V
— Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) July 23, 2025

Witt Jr. is having another excellent year in 2025. In 102 games, he has a .288 batting average, an .827 OPS, 14 home runs and 56 RBIs. He also leads the league with 33 doubles and has stolen 27 bases, showcasing his elite blend of power and speed.

With the Royals currently at 49–53, 11 games back in the division and 4.5 games out of a playoff spot, every matchup will shape their path. With the trade deadline approaching, the front office will have to decide whether to bolster the roster for a postseason push or sell off key pieces.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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