Michael Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. named 2026 Royals All-Stars
Michael Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. were named American League All-Stars on Saturday night during the All-Star Selection Show on FOX, giving the Kansas City Royals two representatives at the 2026 Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia. Wacha earned his second career nod as a pitcher; Witt won the fan vote to start at shortstop for his third straight selection.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro delivered the news to the clubhouse before Kansas City's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. Teammates expected Witt's name; Wacha's call was a different story. Both head to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game on July 14, airing on FOX at 8 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Wacha was selected as an AL pitcher for his second All-Star appearance, his first since 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Bobby Witt Jr. won the fan vote to start at shortstop, marking his third consecutive All-Star nod and first career start.
- Wacha carries a 3.31 ERA and a league-leading 108 2/3 innings pitched entering Saturday's start against Philadelphia.
- Witt leads AL position players with 4.5 fWAR, 29 stolen bases, and a .290/.362/.470 slash line.
- Only Bert Blyleven and Schoolboy Rowe previously went 10 or more seasons between All-Star selections, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Why did Michael Wacha make the 2026 All-Star roster?
The 35-year-old right-hander has earned his return with a 3.31 ERA and a league-leading 108 2/3 innings entering Saturday's start against the Phillies. MLB.com reported that one never knows with All-Star selections, but Wacha's workload and consistency made a strong case.
Players could guess Witt's name would be called, but Wacha's was a different story inside the clubhouse. Since his lone prior All-Star appearance at age 23 with St. Louis in 2015, Wacha has pitched for five franchises before becoming one of the most steady starters in the league with Kansas City over the past three seasons.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only Bert Blyleven (11 years, 1973-85) and Schoolboy Rowe (10 years, 1936-47) previously waited 10 or more seasons between All-Star selections. Wacha's decade-long gap makes his return one of the rarest in MLB history.
What does Bobby Witt Jr.'s fan-vote win mean for the Royals?
Witt was named the AL's starting shortstop after winning the fan vote, enjoying what MLB.com described as a commanding lead over Toronto's Andrés Giménez in the final week of balloting. It is his first All-Star start after finishing as runner-up at shortstop in 2024 and 2025.
He joins Fred Patek (1978) and Alcides Escobar (2015) as the only Royals shortstops ever elected by fans. Witt enters the Midsummer Classic leading AL position players with 4.5 fWAR and 29 stolen bases while slashing .290/.362/.470.
Yahoo Sports noted Witt had been denied starting nods by Gunnar Henderson in 2024 and Jacob Wilson in 2025 despite back-to-back reserve selections. This year, the 26-year-old finally gets the starting shortstop spot he had been chasing.
When and where is the 2026 All-Star Game?
The 2026 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard takes place on July 14 in Philadelphia. FOX will broadcast the Midsummer Classic at 8 p.m. ET, with full rosters unveiled during Saturday's selection show.
Kansas City sends two of its top performers to represent the American League. For more celebrity breaking news from the sports world, follow BlasterPost's latest coverage. Full roster details are available via MLB.com.
Yahoo Sports reported that Carter Jensen or Jac Caglianone could still earn injury-replacement spots, following the path of Carlos Estévez and Maikel Garcia in 2025. For now, Witt and Wacha carry the Royals banner to Philadelphia.