5 bold predictions that could define the Royals’ 2025 season ft. Bobby Witt Jr. winning MVP

The Kansas City Royals were the darling of baseball last year. After a dismal 2023 season, they shocked the world by winning 86 games and getting into the playoffs. In 2025, they're poised to really break out.

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Bold predictions for the 2025 Royals

5) Maikel Garcia will steal 50 bases

Maikel Garcia will steal 50 bases (Imagn)

Maikel Garcia had a breakout season on the basepaths with 37 steals last year. He was poor otherwise offensively, but he ran when he got on base. He could be poised to do a lot more of that in 2025.

Garcia struggled at the plate, and it's hard to envision him getting on enough to steal 50 bases, but his baserunning talent is there. That's also why it's a bold prediction.

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4) Salvador Perez will hit 35 home runs

Salvador Perez will hit 35 home runs (Imagn)

Salvador Perez had a really great offensive season for his age last year, and he hit 27 home runs. He's only getting older and will probably play a little bit less. However, he could have a breakout and return to his best form.

Hitting behind Bobby Witt Jr. will help, but adding Jonathan India potentially at the top of the lineup will, too. Perez should see more pitches to hit with those guys on, and he can still make pitchers pay.

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3) Cole Ragans will win the AL Cy Young

Cole Ragans will win the Cy Young (Imagn)

For a long time last season, Cole Ragans was an AL Cy Young contender. He's a little older and should be a little better this year, and he still ranked in the top 10 of fWAR among all pitchers, not just in the AL.

He will have to outdo Gerrit Cole, Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal, Max Fried, Framber Valdez, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and other contenders. That said, Ragans is poised for a big season.

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2) The Royals will win the division

The Royals will win the division

The Royals snuck into the playoffs down the stretch, but they were one of three AL Central teams to make it. The division was surprisingly competitive, and the Cleveland Guardians still look poised to be as good as last year.

Making up six games of ground in one season is hard to imagine. Bobby Witt Jr. already had his breakout, and the Royals haven't exactly been overly aggressive this offseason. That said, they're definitely on the rise and seem like they're the team to beat.

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1) Bobby Witt Jr. will win MVP

Bobby Witt Jr. will win an MVP (Imagn)

Bobby Witt Jr. would have won his first MVP last year if it wasn't for the brilliance of Aaron Judge. As it stands, Witt has arguably the best non-MVP season in quite some time under his belt and he's still so young.

Between the two likely MVP favorites for 2025, Witt Jr. is far less likely to take a step back. Judge, at almost 33 years old, could be a little worse due to age, and it will open the door for Witt to claim the throne he nearly did last year.