Royals lose to Blue Jays 6-2 on Aug 1, but Bobby Witt Jr. makes history, joining the 25/25 club. Read about his milestone and Vladdy Jr.'s homer.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of frustrating contrasts in Toronto. While the scoreboard read 6-2 in favor of the Blue Jays, the real story for Royals fans was written in the history books by Bobby Witt Jr., who became the first Royal since the legendary Carlos Beltrán to record a 25-homer, 25-stolen base season. It's a dazzling silver lining on a cloudy night, a reminder of the superstar talent at the heart of this team, even as the path forward feels uncertain.
Honored to join Royals history. Let’s keep pushing!
The box score will show a tough loss, but August 1, 2025, will be remembered for Bobby Witt Jr.'s brilliance. The superstar shortstop officially joined the elite 25/25 club by swiping his 25th bag of the season. He also provided all of the team's offense, lacing a two-run double in the 6th inning to break up Kevin Gausman's shutout bid. It's a monumental achievement that puts him in the same sentence as Carlos Beltrán, underscoring the career-best season Witt is putting together as the undisputed leader of this club.
Unfortunately, Witt's heroics weren't enough to overcome a rough start for Michael Wacha. The veteran right-hander battled through 4.1 innings but was tagged for five runs, the biggest blow coming on a three-run homer by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third. Bo Bichette added a solo shot in the fifth, and the Royals' offense couldn't muster much else against a dominant Kevin Gausman, who fanned eight over seven strong innings. The loss drops the Royals to 54-56, keeping them in third place in the AL Central.
The loss stings a little more coming on the heels of a quiet trade deadline week. GM J.J. Picollo and the front office made a clear statement by standing pat: they believe in this group and the talent coming up through the pipeline. We're already seeing glimpses of that future. The team promoted 18-year-old shortstop Yandel Ricardo to High-A Quad Cities, a testament to his defensive prowess. Even more exciting is the buzz around another 18-year-old, RHP Kendry Chourio. The Venezuelan flamethrower is lighting up the Arizona Complex League, boasting a 2.45 ERA and a fastball that touches 97 mph, drawing tantalizing comparisons to a young Yordano Ventura.
So where do the Royals go from here? Friday's game was a microcosm of their season: flashes of individual superstardom mixed with frustrating inconsistency. With the trade deadline passed, this is the team that will sink or swim down the stretch. They'll look to even the series against the Blue Jays tomorrow, hoping the rest of the lineup can match the historic energy Bobby Witt Jr. brings to the park every single day.
