AL WILD CARD SERIES: ROYALS VS ORIOLES

October 2, 2024

Bobby Witt, Jr.

Camden Yards

Kansas City Royals

Postgame Press Conference

Royals 2, Orioles 1

Q. Bobby, first and foremost, how does it feel to get the Royals to the ALDS and guaranteeing a game at the K?

BOBBY WITT JR: Unbelievable. This is what we worked for in the offseason, in Spring Training, and we wanted to bring it back to KC.

And I keep saying that's what we wanted to do, and now we're doing it. We've just got to take things one day at a time, one step at a time like we've been doing. It's unbelievable doing it for the fans so I can't wait to play a game there, but first go to New York.

Q. Take me through your thought process when you hit the ball up the middle. How important was it for you to get down there because you knew you had a run potentially scoring?

BOBBY WITT JR: Yeah, Westburg made an unbelievable play up the middle so I just had to try to run at that point, so that's really it.

Q. What was going through your mind with Zerpa and kind of the way he attacked that fifth inning with the bases loaded, one out, and was successful in getting out?

BOBBY WITT JR: Yeah, that's just the competitor in him. He's just going to go out there and attack, and that's what our pitching staff, bullpen did these past two games.

So it's been unbelievable what they did and they're the reason we were in those games, so it was great.

Q. To be able to knock in both the runs that win games in this series, what's that like for you, and to be able to do it on a stage like this?

BOBBY WITT JR: Yeah, that's the fun part of this game. This is why we do it, these situations here. It really just comes down to controlling what I can control, just being present in that moment, be where my feet are and enjoy the moment because you never know when this opportunity is ever going to happen again, so kind of make the most of it while you have it.

Q. Back on Monday you talked about how this team was focused on creating its own legacy because everybody in Kansas City was talking about the '14 and '15 teams. How has this team done that so far?

BOBBY WITT JR: Yeah, I think it's the start of something special. Like I keep saying, we didn't come this far just to come this far, so we're going to keep getting after it, keep trying to create our own legacy.

So it's pretty special to see what this team has done this year from what happened last year, and so now we've just got to keep doing it.

Q. Were there any moments late in the season where you ever doubted this? Were there any tough points where you doubted this? At what point did you know this group was capable of making the playoffs and winning a round?

BOBBY WITT JR: Honestly when we showed up to Spring Training. As cliche as that sounds, with this team, you could just feel it, how special it was, and how guys just really came together and our ultimate goal was to win.

The stats come as they go, but we wanted to win each and every night, so once everyone's mentality was that, that's when we knew.

Q. You guys had a couple of big defensive plays. MJ's play in left field, Michael Massey's defensive diving stop, recording the out. Just those moments, what did that do for the whole team to believe that we can take this home today?

BOBBY WITT JR: Yeah, that's why we're in those games because of defense. That's what we preach as Royals, and we play defense, run hard, be aggressive, so that's what we've got to do to keep winning.

Q. Just to put this into perspective, do you remember what you were doing at this time last year?

BOBBY WITT JR: At home, not playing baseball for sure. It's special. So we want to keep playing as long as we can. This is an amazing team, so I'm really looking forward to what's to come.

Q. What would you tell your 15 year old self -- because that was the last time the Royals were in the postseason, you were 15 years old -- just about the history of the team and things of that nature, and did you ever see yourself potentially being right here in this moment?

BOBBY WITT JR: Like I said, this is what you dream about. My 15 year old self, I was dreaming, so now we're here, so now we've got this opportunity right here, so we've got to make the most of it. We've got to enjoy today and then focus on the next task at hand.