Bobby Witt Jr.’s priest gave him a blessing (and a big prediction) before season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Witt received confirmation after the WBC; he and his wife had marriage confirmed first.
- Royals praise the young core’s maturation as players and people after 2025 and WBC.
- Priest blessed Witt and jokingly declared 'MVP is on lock' after the confirmation.
Bobby Witt Jr. has already shown his elite baseball skills at the major league level for a few years now. The practicing Catholic often credits his faith for his abilities, and a recent ceremony may give him a little boost this season.
On March 23, nearly a week after helping USA take runner-up at the World Baseball Classic, Witt received the sacrament of confirmation — a ritual where a believer is baptized and ”sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” in accordance with the Holy Bible.
The rite of passage is usually done when followers are teenagers. Witt was baptized as a child but had to push off his confirmation because of his rigorous baseball schedule, he told The Star on Monday.
Witt and his wife, Maggie, got their marriage confirmed first, before Witt went home to native Colleyville, Texas, where he was confirmed by his priest, Friar Zachary Burns of Good Shepherd Catholic Community. The Witts met with Burns for about a month in preparation for the ceremony.
“It was awesome, just because our faith is huge in our family. So it’s just great to be able to finally get confirmed in the Catholic Church,” Witt said. “Just give all glory to God. So it’s just something I’ve always done growing up, and now I just feel like fully, fully committed to my faith.”
Burns posted on Instagram about Witt’s confirmation — “those visible signs of God’s invisible love,” as Burns called it.
“Bobby is a man of quiet conviction and deep faith, and I know he’s going to be a bold witness for Jesus in the clubhouse, on the baseball field, and in the eyes of so many young people who look up to him,” Burns said. “Congrats, man! And best of luck this season (just go easy on my Yanks, please).”
Witt and several of his teammates come into the 2026 season riding a WBC high. The 25-year-old shortstop was an essential defensive presence for Team USA’s run and was one of their top hitters, routinely batting leadoff.
Royals management has strong belief in the team’s young core because of how they have grown from promising prospects into ascending young stars. But mostly, manager Matt Quatraro credits their growth as men.
“There’s a tremendous amount of learning that goes on year to year,” Quatraro said Monday. “I think as they just mature as people as well and learn who they are and what’s important to them, I think that’s a very fair assessment.”
The two-time All-Star will be looked upon to lead the team back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2025 season. Pushed by his love of the game and rooted in his faith, he’s hoping for a much-improved season.
“We have an amazing team. It’s going to be an amazing year,” Witt said. “All the guys are really comfortable and confident in what our preparation has got us to. ... We learned a lot from last year, learned a lot from two years ago.”
Burns also gave one final anecdote that Royals fans will like to hear: a holy blessing to be the best player in MLB.
“Also, with the fullness of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, MVP is on lock,” Burns said.
