Witt Jr. Makes All-Star Debut, Joined by Fellow Royals as AL Reserves

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Several Kansas City Royals will head to the MLB All-Star Game later this month.

Major League Baseball announced All-Star reserves on Sunday, with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. being named to his first All-Star game and catcher Salvador Perez joining him for his ninth All-Star game appearance. Royals starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans also made the All-Star game, each for their first time.

Witt Jr. has started every game this season for the Royals after signing the largest contract in franchise history this off-season. The 24-year-old from Colleyville, Texas, will play in the All-Star game on Tuesday, July 16, in Arlington, Texas. Witt Jr. is second in the American League in batting average and was tied for third in the AL in runs scored entering Sunday.

Both Perez and Witt Jr. reached Phase 2 of All-Star voting but were beat out for the starting position on the AL All-Star team by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman.

Royals pitcher Seth Lugo was named an AL All-Star after compiling an 11-3 record and the best-earned run average in baseball. Lugo signed with the Royals as a free agent in December a 3-year deal worth $45 million and has since propelled the Royals to playoff contention.

Former Texas Ranger Cole Ragans will also be headed to Arlington this July. Ragans, who the Royals traded for in late June 2023, was also named an AL All-Star with the third-most strikeouts in MLB heading into Sunday.

This season is the first time since 2021 the Royals have had multiple All-Stars and just the second time since 2017 Kansas City has had multiple All-Stars.