Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. named first-ever Play Ball Ambassador by MLB
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One of the brightest young stars in Major League Baseball has been named MLB’s first-ever PLAY BALL Ambassador.
As MLB embarks on the 10th year of its PLAY BALL initiative, Kansas City Royals superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been named the ambassador. The 24-year-old shortstop will represent the initiative, which aims to encourage casual forms of baseball and softball play to help grow the sport.
Witt Jr. was named the ambassador just days before beginning his fourth big-league season with the Royals. As the PLAY BALL Ambassador, Witt Jr. will play a central role in MLB’s attempts to encourage youth baseball and softball participation.
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The Texas native who Kansas City selected second overall in the 2019 MLB Draft will be features each week on MLB Network’s “Play Ball” show designed to educate young fans about the game. Witt Jr. will be on the show with tips and trivia each week.
Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in MLB history to have multiple 30 home run, 30 stolen base seasons -- doing so in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. He helped the Royals reach the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade last season, a year in which he reached his first MLB All-Star Game and led the league in batting average.
He won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove for his outstanding hitting and fielding skills last season.
Witt Jr. signed the largest contract in Royals franchise history in February 2024.
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