Becoming ‘Junior’: Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. says he adopted alter ego and success followed
From the outside, it seems like life has always been great for Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
From a young age, Witt was viewed as one of the best baseball prospects in the nation, starred for his high school team and was the second overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. He has blossomed into a Major League Baseball All-Star with a nearly $300 million contract.
But as he details in an essay for The Players Tribune, Witt has dealt with anxiety and doubt throughout his life. That goes back to when he was a young boy in Colleyville, Texas.
“With me, a big part of growing up was feeling grateful for everything my family did for me, but also never wanting to make them or anybody else upset or disappointed in any way,” he wrote. “I always just really wanted to do the right thing, and to be the very best version of myself, in every circumstance. And that’s definitely part of what drove me to become the best baseball player I could possibly be. But it’s not always the easiest way to live your life. Especially as a little kid.
“I guess the simplest way for me to describe it is: I was always a big worrier.”
That pressure only ramped up after he was selected by the Royals. Witt put that pressure on himself to make an instant impact on a franchise had fallen back on hard times.
Witt was devastated when he was sent to Double-A after spring training in 2021, but he was with the Royals the following season.
Wanting to turn the Royals into contenders, Witt instead was part of a team that lost 203 games over two seasons. He batted .265 with 50 home runs and 59 doubles. Solid numbers, but not what Witt had expected for himself.
The losing began to weigh on Witt away from the ballpark. Witt made a life-changing decision to consult his mental performance coach, who came up with an idea for how Witt could separate his job from his home life.
It involved Witt adding an alter ego.
Here is an excerpt from Witt’s essay, starting with what the mental performance coach told him.
“All right, this is how it’s gonna be,” he said. “You’re Bobby off the field. And that’s the person your family and friends all know and love. The son, the friend, the family man, the guy who is just trying to live a good, solid life. And then….
“There’s Junior.”
I was like … What do you mean?
“When you get to the field, you flip that switch, and just like that … you’re Junior.”
I loved that idea so much. Like an alter ego. You get to the stadium, and you put that cape on. Clark Kent and Superman. So we immediately got to work making that my approach: Bobby at home … but Junior at the ballpark. Then, after the game, that cape comes back off.
And this is maybe gonna sound crazy, but that’s been a life-changing thing for me, to be honest with you. It was like magic. That simple little framing, that’s all it took for the stress and worry to melt away.
And, surprise, surprise, ever since then….
I’ve been playing some of the best ball of my life.
Witt’s 2024 season was one of the best in Royals history. He led the league with a .332 batting average and scored 125 runs and hit 32 home runs and 45 doubles with 109 RBIs. Witt won a Gold Glove Award and finished second in the MVP voting.
Kansas City is home
Witt also wrote about the 14-year deal (11 years guaranteed) he signed with the Royals a year ago. He could make up to $288.7 million, but the money wasn’t the biggest reason why he signed.
It was the chance to stay in Kansas City for the long term. He wants to emulate the Chiefs’ success and build a dynasty for the Royals.
In Witt’s mind, last year’s playoff appearance was just the start.
“Everything about this team has me excited for the future,” Witt wrote. “But I honestly think the thing I’m most looking forward to is just being able to do more special things for our fans. Being able to bring some more joy into their lives.
“Last year was no fluke. And what happens from here on out is gonna be so much fun. Not just for guys like me, but for everyone in Kansas City. So much good is on the horizon right now, and that’s a big part of why I decided to sign long-term with the Royals.
“But let me be completely up-front with you right now and say that my decision was about a lot more than just our team.
“It was about this place, this community.
“My ultimate goal has always been to play for one team my entire career, like so many of the guys before me who I admire — Jeter, Pedroia, guys like that. And it just didn’t feel right to think about suiting up for any other team than this one.
“I’m a family-first guy, and everything about this city just feels so right to me. It’s crazy how blessed I’ve been with the family that I have, my support group. Then, to land in this wonderful place … it’s beyond special. And I want part of my legacy as a ballplayer to be based on helping to bring another title to Kansas City, because I’m just extremely grateful for how this town opened its arms for me.”
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM.
