KC Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. won’t participate in 2025 Home Run Derby
Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. has crossed one item off his All-Star checklist for next week.
The shortstop said he will not participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby, which is set for Monday, July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Witt might have been a favorite to win the event, had he elected to participate again. Last season, he finished second in the derby finals to Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
Witt belted 50 total home runs in the 2024 contest. His last swing traveled 410 feet but fell just short of tying Hernandez in the championship round.
“No,” Witt said Monday when asked whether he’d be participating again.
He said he wasn’t asked to enter his name in this year’s Home Run Derby. This year, he said, he is excited to watch the event up close, but only as a spectator.
“Something I always remember is just being ready to watch the Home Run Derby,” he said, “and being ready to watch the game whenever it was (on) in the summertime.”
Witt has 12 home runs so far this year. He is looking to secure a third consecutive 30-30 season, and he currently has 24 stolen bases.
He took a 10-game hitting streak into Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Kauffman Stadium. And he has started to heat up at the plate, with a .400 batting average in six games this month.
Fellow All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Cal Raleigh and Byron Buxton are among the players who are officially entered in this year’s Home Run Derby. The complete derby lineup is not yet known.
Witt will be making his second All-Star Game appearance. He was selected as a reserve for the American League team on Sunday afternoon.
The Royals opened a six-game homestand against the Pirates and New York Mets on Monday evening. After that comes Major League Baseball’s All-Star Break.
This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM with the headline "KC Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. won’t participate in 2025 Home Run Derby."
