The Kansas City Royals’ remarkable season has officially concluded. After suffering a franchise-record 106 losses in 2023 and facing numerous hurdles this year, the Royals secured their first playoff appearance since 2015 and swept the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild Card Series.
However, their postseason run ended with a 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium, cutting short their AL Division Series and denying Kansas City a home playoff victory this decade.
Bobby Witt Jr. expressed understanding toward the disappointed fans but remained focused on the team’s future. “It feels like you’ve let a lot of people down,” Witt told KCTV5 News’ Jared Koller. “It ignites a fire in you and leaves a bitter taste. This is the standard for Kansas City Royals baseball. We aim to make the postseason every year. It’s not about ‘if we get there,’ but ‘how far we go.’ That’s our goal.”
Despite a tough ALDS performance (going 2-for-17), Witt, the Royals’ rising star, is optimistic and full of promise. With at least six years remaining on his 11-year contract, Witt’s leadership and talent will shape the team’s future. Veteran pitcher Seth Lugo should continue to play a key role in the starting rotation, while emerging players like Cole Ragans,er Brady Sing, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Michael Massey could become key contributors alongside Witt.
“This team is going to be special,” the 24-year-old Witt said. “Teams won’t want to face us… and it’ll be like that for a while.”
Witt’s statements outline a path forward, and now it’s up to him and the Royals to execute that plan.
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