Bobby Witt Jr. keeps stacking up the hardware, and this one puts him in a class all by himself.
The Kansas City Royals shortstop was named the Heart & Hustle Award winner for the third straight season Friday, making him the first player in MLB history to take home the honor three times. The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced the selection, and Witt became the 21st recipient of the award, which goes to an active player who shows a passion for baseball while living up to the game’s values, traditions and spirit.
Witt has fit that description since arriving in the majors in 2022. He has quickly become one of baseball’s premier players, and his influence has stretched well beyond his production on the field. Inside the Royals clubhouse and across Kansas City, he has left a mark that keeps growing.
His 2026 season gave the award another fitting backdrop. Witt hit .281/.359/.441 with 18 home runs, 33 doubles, 54 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. He also finished with a 7.0 fWAR, second-best in all of baseball.
The numbers only reinforce what has become obvious: Witt does a little bit of everything. He brings power, speed and defense to the table, and he backed that up with 24 outs above average in the field. That all-around impact helped earn him a spot as a finalist for the American League MVP award.
For the Royals, this latest honor is another reminder of what they have in Witt. He produces at an elite level, but the award is about more than stats. It reflects how he carries himself, and why he continues to matter so much to Kansas City.
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