Royals stars Bobby Witt Jr. & Salvador Perez announced as MLB All-Star finalists

Kansas City Royals duo Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. are one step closer to representing the club at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Both players advanced to Phase 2 of the All-Star voting process. They each are All-Star finalists after finishing Phase 1 with the second-most votes in their respective positions.

Phase 2 voting will begin on Saturday, June 30, at 11 a.m. Central. The voting process will run through Wednesday, July 3.

Fans can vote online at mlb.com.

Vote totals will reset in Phase 2. Fans will be able to cast a ballot once per day on various MLB platforms. The fan vote winner at each position will represent their respective league as an All-Star starter.

All-Star starters will be announced on July 3 at 6 p.m. Central on ESPN.

“They are extremely deserving,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I saw where the voting was. They are behind some really good players. But, in my mind, they should both be starters.”

Perez garnered 1,429,732 votes in Phase 1. He trailed Baltimore Orioles star Adley Rutschman (2,791,952) at the catcher position. Perez is looking to earn his ninth All-Star selection and represent the Royals in 94th Midsummer Classic.

Witt collected 1,417,629 votes and finished behind Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2,664,120) in Phase 1. Witt has a chance to make his first career All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

It will be a homecoming as Witt grew up in nearby Colleyville, Texas. He attended Colleyville Heritage High School before being selected by the Royals in 2019.

“You see it every day,” Royals utilityman Nick Loftin said. “He makes plays that not many people make.”

Both Royals have a compelling case. Witt leads the American League in batting average and total hits. Prior to Thursday’s action, Witt owns a .311 batting average with 102 hits, 12 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Should Witt earn the All-Star starting nod, he will join former Royals Freddie Patek (1978) and Alcides Escobar (2015) as the lone shortstops to win the fan selection.

Perez has won the fan vote four times in his illustrious career. The Royals captain has been a consistent force in the lineup. He is hitting .279 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .809 OPS (on-base plus slugging) this season.

There have been several highlight moments as well. Perez hit his 250th career home run against the New York Mets. He has also played quality defense behind the plate and at first base.

“He’s put together a very consistent career,” Loftin said. “Every single year, he has shown up and done the things he needs to do to put himself into that category of being one of the greatest to ever do it.”

The Royals could have multiple players earn All-Star selections this season. There is a chance starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans are selected as well.

Lugo is tied for the MLB lead with 10 wins. He has produced a 2.29 ERA in 17 starts. Recently, Lugo earned his 50th win of his career.

Ragans is fifth in MLB with 120 strikeouts. He has limited opponents to a .219 batting average in 98 innings this season.

All-Star pitchers and reserves, 23 total for each league, will be determined by a combination of player ballot choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.