Dallas-Fort Worth native Bobby Witt Jr. shares excitement ahead of first MLB All-star game

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is living the dream and he knows it.

The former Colleyville Heritage standout is playing in his first all-star game and participating in his first homerun derby this week at Globe Life Field.

y, Witt Jr. talked Monday about what it means to get that opportunity in his hometown.

“Just being an all-star is an honor, the first one being in [my] hometown is incredible. All my family is going to be able to come out,” Witt said on Monday during the all-star media session. “You never know when you get these opportunities and I know there’s millions of other kids that would die to be in my shoes and so just try to take it all in and enjoy every moment and have fun.”

Witt Jr.’s father Bobby Witt Sr, played 16 years in the majors, 11 of which came with the Texas Rangers and the younger Witt spoke about the impact his entire family had on helping him get to this moment.

“It’s unbelievable, just the family support that I have not only family but friends and I think that they’re a huge part of why I’m here today and that the many blessings that I have with them and, they’re just always there for me and I always got a shoulder to go to if I need it,” said Witt Jr.

“They were fired up and they were so excited and there’s no really true words that you can really describe and tell them that, like how excited they were and I was,” said Witt Jr.

Witt Jr. requested 30 tickets for Monday’s home run derby, including his parents, and heard from other friends who plan to attend.

The all-star shortstop reached out to teammate Salvador Perez, who participated in the 2021 Home Run Derby, who encouraged him to join the derby and gave advice.

“When they reached out to me I was like Wow really, me,” said Witt Jr., “The first person I really asked was Salvy, he’s done it, how’d your body feel after? He said ‘Oh 100 percent you have to do it,’.”

This won’t be Witt Jr.’s first home run derby in a major league park, he participated in a high school Home Run Derby back in 2018 when the all-star game was held in Washington D.C. which he won over future MLB players Riley Greene and Rece Hinds.

Witt Jr. is off to the best start of his three-year hitting .323 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs heading into the all-star break and ranks among the top five shortstops in the majors in batting average, home runs and RBIs.