Royals shortstop on the fast track..
Bobby Witt Jr. smashes 100th Home Run and joins rare MLB company originally appeared on The Sporting News
Bobby Witt Jr. didn’t just add another homer to his season tally Tuesday night. He stamped his name into Major League Baseball history.
The Kansas City Royals shortstop pounded a two-run blast in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers, a no-doubt shot that went 449 feet to straightaway center. The Royals went on to win 5-2, their fifth straight victory, but the real headline was Witt’s milestone swing.
A milestone swing deserves a splash! pic.twitter.com/zV9Pg98W2B
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 20, 2025
At just 25 years and 66 days old, Witt became the youngest player in Royals history to reach 100 career home runs. He reached the mark faster than franchise legend Carlos Beltran, who did it back in 2003.
A place among the elite
The homer wasn’t just a personal milestone. It also put Witt in an exclusive club. He became only the fourth player ever to record at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases in his first four big league seasons, joining Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry, and Bobby Bonds.
MORE: Chicago Cubs prized rookie clubs first career home run on Tuesday
Witt’s power-speed combination has also placed him in select shortstop company. Over the past 95 years, only six shortstops have belted 100 home runs before turning 26, including names like Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr., Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Hanley Ramirez. Of those, only Rodriguez and Ramirez also had 100 steals by the same age.
Royals riding Witt’s surge
While Witt is piling up historic numbers, his performance has also fueled a Royals surge. Kansas City has won seven of its last eight games and is suddenly just 2.5 games back in the American League wild-card chase.
Witt has been the centerpiece of that push, hitting .291 with 18 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases this season. Last year, he led the majors with a .332 batting average while tallying 32 homers and 31 steals. His production has kept the Royals in contention and given them a shot at October baseball.
Kansas City is nine games behind Detroit in the American League Central, but with their five-game winning streak, they have moved 2.5 games back in the wildcard hunt. Kansas City and Texas will finish their series after games on Wednesday and Thursday.
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Category: Baseball
