Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. received another prestigious award after his dynamic 2025 campaign.
On Tuesday, Witt was honored with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. He is the third Royal to receive the award joining Salvador Perez (2021) and George Brett (1986).
Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity presents the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award annually to a Major League Baseball player that exemplifies Gehrig’s spirit on and off the field.
Witt will receive the award on May 27 at Kauffman Stadium. There will be a pregame presentation ahead of the Royals’ series finale against the New York Yankees.
“Bobby’s talent and impact on the field are obvious, but all of us here are so proud of the positive light he’s become off the field and in our community,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release. “An award named after Lou Gehrig is an incredible honor and we’re thrilled that Bobby’s heart, care and generosity continue to serve as an example for others.”
An incredible honor for an incredible person. 💙
Bobby Witt Jr. has been named the winner of the 2025 Lou Gehrig Award!
Given annually to the player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, Bobby joins George Brett and Salvador Perez as the third… pic.twitter.com/2FeiNT4Ccz
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) February 24, 2026
Witt continues to become a pillar in the Royals community. He has raised awareness for ALS and supported different groups such as Sarah’s Soldiers and the Team Hillard Foundation.
Additionally, Witt has supported youth camps, championed youth literacy in Kansas City and was named the first Play Ball Ambassador in 2025.
“I tell people I hope Bobby is our next captain,” Perez said. “He is the best player I’ve ever played with, but captains lead the way off the field, too. He is a great teammate, and I am so proud to see everything he’s involved with, especially the fight against ALS.”
Witt enters his fifth season with the Royals. He finished fourth in 2025 American League MVP voting after posting a .295 batting average with 23 homers and 88 RBIs. He also led the league in hits (184) and doubles (47) while winning a Platinum Glove and Silver Slugger Award.
The Royals will count on Witt this season. He is the central piece in their starting lineup and is complemented by impact players in Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia.
And before that, Witt will represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He is expected to headline the team alongside Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Aaron Judge.
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Jaylon Thompson covers the Royals for The Kansas City Star. He previously covered the 2021 World Series and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.