Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals has won the 2025 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, sponsored by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity. Phi Delta Theta presents the award annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who was a member of the Fraternity’s Columbia University chapter. The award was first presented in 1955 and is permanently maintained at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“Bobby’s talent and impact on the field are obvious, but all of us here are so proud of the positive light he’s become off the field and in our community,” Royals President of Baseball Operations/General Manager J.J. Picollo said. “An award named after Lou Gehrig is an incredible honor and we’re thrilled that Bobby’s heart, care and generosity continue to serve as an example for others.”
Witt Jr. is the third member of the Royals to win the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, following George Brett in 1986 and Salvador Perez in 2021. Witt Jr. will receive the award on Wednesday, May 27, prior to the Royals game against the Yankees.
Witt Jr. is a dedicated advocate for organizations raising awareness and helping the ALS fight. For the past three seasons, he has hosted clinics for more than 400 local youth, supporting philanthropic groups such as Susanna Smiles, Sarah’s Soldiers and the Team Hilliard Foundation. In 2024, the three-hour baseball clinic raised over $45,000 to financially support Sarah Nauser and others battling ALS. In addition, he has taken his talents from the diamond to the links in support of the Team Hilliard Foundation Golf Tournament to help raise awareness and funds for ALS research. Each year on Lou Gehrig Day, Bobby helps to organize a suite to honor all those impacted by ALS through these two organizations.
“I tell people I hope Bobby is our next captain,” said current Royals Captain Salvador Perez. “He is the best player I’ve ever played with, but captains lead the way off the field, too. He is a great teammate, and I am so proud to see everything he’s involved with, especially the fight against ALS.”
Last June, Witt Jr. hosted a youth camp in partnership with ProCamps and CommunityAmerica. With the collaborating support of Bobby and CommunityAmerica, the camp proceeds totaled a $50,000 donation to the Edward Dulle Family in collaboration with Susanna Smiles. Susanna Smiles supports families with children facing hardship caused by critical illness or loss of a parent to help lessen the burden and aid prosperity for families.
Last year, Witt Jr. became the first-ever PLAY BALL Ambassador. As part of his ambassadorship, Bobby will continue to be featured in regular content pieces across the PLAY BALL and MLB media channels providing tips and answering questions to help aid in MLB’s efforts to encourage youth participation in baseball and softball inspiring the next generation of players and fans. Witt Jr. is not only inspiring youth on the field but also in the classroom. He has worked with local children to help increase literacy rates in the Kansas City Metro as a Royals Literacy League Classroom Champion. He was one of the first to step forward and is entering his third year championing the program launched by the Kansas City Royals Foundation and local partners to build excitement around reading and literacy in elementary-aged students in public schools in Kansas City. Bobby inspires both students and faculty to strive to be their best. He regularly visits his classroom and is on a first-name basis with many of the students, all while building excitement for and sharing the importance of reading.
In addition to Perez, past recipients of the Lou Gehrig Award include Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and many more.
Witt Jr. is the first player in Major League history to record at least 20 home runs and 30 steals in each of his first four seasons. He’s one of four players ever to record at least 100 HR and 100 steals through four seasons, joining Bobby Bonds, Darryl Strawberry and Julio Rodríguez. Through four big league seasons, Witt Jr., 25, is a two-time All-Star, a two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, a Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winner, a two-time Louisville Silver Slugger Award winner, a Major League batting champion and has twice been named First Team All-MLB at shortstop. Over the last two seasons, Witt Jr.’s 16.5 bWAR ranks 2nd in the Majors, trailing only Aaron Judge (20.5).