Bobby Witt Jr. could win his first American League MVP in 2026.
The Kansas City Royals are aiming to return to the MLB postseason in 2026, and if they succeed, the driving force will almost certainly be the elite play of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. At just 25 years old, Witt has already established himself as the face of the franchise and arguably its best player since making his debut in 2022. His combination of speed, power, defense and leadership has kept Kansas City competitive, and given his age, he would be a top choice for any team looking to build around a single cornerstone player.
Witt’s breakout season came in 2024, when he finished runner-up in American League MVP voting, won the batting title and helped lead the Royals to the playoffs. While his 2025 campaign did not quite reach those same heights, he remained one of the league’s most impactful players. Across 157 games, Witt posted a .295 batting average, a .351 on-base percentage and an .852 OPS. He added 23 home runs, 38 stolen bases and 88 RBIs, while also leading all of Major League Baseball in hits (184) and doubles (47).
Looking ahead, Baseball Reference projects Witt to deliver another strong season in 2026, with a .302 batting average, a .358 on-base percentage and an .885 OPS, along with 25 home runs, 31 stolen bases and 86 RBIs. Those numbers fall between his 2024 peak and his 2025 production, and they seem realistic given his consistency at the plate. It is worth noting, however, that these projections do not account for Witt’s defensive value, which significantly raises his overall impact. Last season, he posted a Fielding Run Value of 20 according to Statcast's Baseball Savant, the best among shortstops and fifth-highest in all of MLB.
With his offensive and defensive contributions combined, Witt has positioned himself as a legitimate MVP candidate. Entering his physical prime, he has already lived up to the expectations that came when Kansas City drafted him second overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. The Royals also secured their future by signing him to an 11-year, $288.8 million extension, a deal with options that could effectively keep him in Kansas City for life.
For a franchise eager to return to contention, Witt represents both stability and star power. If he continues to build on his already impressive body of work, 2026 could be the year he not only leads the Royals back to October but also captures the American League MVP award.