Bobby Witt Jr. added another line to his growing résumé, and this one comes with a piece of history.
With his latest honor, Witt became the first shortstop to earn three All-MLB First Team selections since the awards debuted in 2019. The All-MLB Team, which honors the best players at each position across the Majors, is determined entirely by regular-season performance. Fan voting makes up half the result, while a panel of media members, broadcasters, former players and other baseball officials accounts for the other half.
The awards program also includes recognition for the Hank Aaron Awards, Comeback Players of the Year, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the Year and Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year.
Witt’s 2026 season was still loaded with production. The 26-year-old made his third All-Star team and hit .281/.359/.441 with 18 home runs, 33 doubles, 94 runs scored and 45 stolen bases. Among qualified American League shortstops, he finished first in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles.
His legs were as dangerous as ever. Witt’s 45 steals ranked second in the AL behind the Rays’ Chandler Simpson, who had 46, and extended his streak to five straight seasons with at least 30 stolen bases.
He also showed more patience at the plate, drawing a career-high 67 walks, which was 18 more than he had in 2025. Even with a lower batting average, his on-base percentage climbed from .351 last season to .359 in ’26.
Witt’s year came with a little more missed time than usual. He played in a career-low 143 games and landed on the injured list for the first time in his five-year Major League career because of lower back tightness in July. Still, he piled up 7.0 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs, the best mark in the American League and second-best in the Majors behind the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, who finished at 10.6.
He was just as sharp on defense. The Texas native posted 24 outs above average, the most among Major League shortstops and third most among all fielders, trailing only Crow-Armstrong (26) and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (25). He matched his 2025 total despite playing 14 fewer games.
Witt’s +17 fielding run value also tied the Cardinals’ Masyn Winn for the lead among shortstops.
Even though his offense didn’t quite match the peak of his previous two seasons, including his historic 2024, Witt’s all-around impact was enough to put him among the three finalists for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He joined Yordan Alvarez of the Astros and Junior Caminero of the Rays, and the winner will be announced Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network.
In Other News...
Bobby Witt Jr Is Forcing A Bigger Royals Legacy Conversation
Bobby Witt Jr. keeps adding another layer to the Royals history book, and the latest chapter came at the MLB Awards on Nov. 11, where he was named to the All-MLB First Team at shortstop for the third straight year. For a player who debuted in 2022, that kind of recognition is already rare company, and it has become difficult to talk about Witt without also talking about where he fits in the broader arc of Kansas City baseball.
The conversation is no longer just about stardom in the present tense. With 879 hits and 33.6 fWAR already on the ledger across five seasons, Witt is starting to push into territory that invites comparisons with franchise icon George Brett, especially if he keeps producing at this pace and stays on the field long enough. For the Royals, that is the sort of long-view discussion that only happens when a player is doing more than living up to expectations. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Prospects Are Sending Very Different Signals In Arizona
The Arizona Fall League has become a useful late-season measuring stick for the Royals farm system, and this years group is offering a mixed read. Nine Kansas City prospects are in the showcase circuit, giving the organization another chance to compare progress against the backdrop of recent minor league seasons, injuries, and developmental hurdles. For a club that has spent plenty of time trying to sort out which young players are ready to matter in Kansas City, the AFL is less about box scores than about separating real forward movement from a short burst of good results.
Some of the early returns have been encouraging, with a few players showing signs that their recent work is carrying over in a meaningful way. Others have left a more complicated impression, either because the production has lagged or because health and consistency remain part of the conversation. For the Royals, that split matters, because the fall league is often where the organization gets its clearest look at who is pushing toward a bigger role and who still has more proving to do. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Rookie Of The Year Drought Puts One Young Arm In Focus
Carter Jensens fifth-place finish in the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year race was a reminder of how long the Royals have gone without a winner in that category. It has been 23 years since Kansas City last produced a Rookie of the Year, a drought that hangs over every promising young player who starts to look like more than just a depth piece.
One of the next names to watch is Lucas Braun, the pitching prospect acquired from the Braves, who is viewed as a possible part of the Royals 2027 staff. Brauns appeal is less about flash than dependability, with a track record of steady minor league work and the kind of pitching profile that could put him in position to compete for the award if he reaches the majors on schedule. He may not carry the loudest upside in the system, but for a club still searching for its next breakthrough rookie, he is a logical arm to keep in focus. [Read more 🡒]