The Kansas City Royals have two players named to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, announced this afternoon. Bobby Witt Jr. returns for his second selection, while pitcher Kris Bubic earns a surprising first All-Star nod, highlighting his strong performance this season.
Bobby Witt Jr. Maintains High-Level Performance Despite Slower Start
Bobby Witt Jr., long recognized as a key player for the Royals, has compiled a .292/.344/.493 slash line with 12 home runs and 24 stolen bases. Although this pace is slower than last year, he leads the league with 30 doubles and ranks fourth in MLB for fWAR and ninth for bWAR among position players. Fans might have preferred to see Witt as the starter at shortstop over Jacob Wilson of the Athletics, but voting results favored Wilson this time.
Inside the All-Star Voting Process and Player Choices
The player voting results have drawn attention, showcasing some unexpected omissions. Jayson Stark highlighted the absence of Juan Soto, who did not make the All-Star team through either fan or player votes.
Player all-star voting results. Always interesting. Why is Juan Soto not an all-star, for example? Wasn’t voted onto the team by either the players or the fans. pic.twitter.com/1g418s29ao
—Jayson Stark
Kris Bubic’s Strong Pitching Earns Unexpected All-Star Recognition
While Kris Bubic’s 7-6 win-loss record may not stand out, his 2.36 ERA across 103 innings tells a different story. His excellent control is reflected in just 32 walks allowed compared to 107 strikeouts, placing him seventh in fWAR and eighth in bWAR among all MLB pitchers. This performance secured his first All-Star Game selection and represents an important step forward for the Royals’ pitching staff.
Wider League Context of All-Star Selections
The 2025 All-Star rosters are balanced, with 11 teams represented by only a single player, and no team dominating the lists as seen in previous years. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the National League with five total picks, including Clayton Kershaw, who was selected as a “Legend Pick” by Commissioner Rob Manfred. The American League’s top teams, the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, each have four players named to the roster.
Potential Royals Snubs and Roster Rules
Some notable Royals who were left off the initial roster include Maikel Garcia and Carlos Estévez. Both players remain candidates for injury replacement spots, with analysts like ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle and Kansas City Star’s Jaylon Thompson calling attention to their possible oversight. CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder also mentioned Seth Lugo as a player on the “best of the rest” list who could be added later.
Rosters are expanded from 26 to 32 for the All-Star Game. They include starters elected by fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers and a backup for each position) chosen in a player vote and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. Every club must be represented.
—League Official Explanation
Upcoming Event Details and Significance
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, exactly one week from Tuesday. The event will spotlight the league’s top talent, including the Royals’ Witt and Bubic, whose selections underscore the team’s growing competitiveness. The final expanded rosters and any injury replacements will be confirmed in the lead-up to the game, making this a notable moment for Kansas City baseball.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Kris Bubic?
A. In three games, Bubic had no wins, two losses, and a 3.94 ERA, striking out 16 batters over 16 innings. On April 21, 2023, it was revealed that he would need Tommy John surgery, which cut his season short. He returned to the active roster on July 6, 2024, after recovering from his injury.