KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have increased expectations going into next season after a very productive offseason.

A large reason for those expectations is the play of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who has already entrenched himself as one of the best young players in baseball.

But it’s off the diamond where Witt gets some of his inspiration from people like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Patrick Mahomes is like a role model to me,” Witt said at Royals Rally on Saturday. “He’ll text me sometime during his season saying he’s keeping up, watching me work out. I’ll show my fiancée and say ‘Hey look who texted me!’”

Witt and Mahomes—while the two play different sports—boast multiple similarities so it would make sense why Witt would say that.

They are currently two of the most prominent athletes on Kansas City’s sports scene.

While Mahomes has accomplished more and played longer, Witt is off to a record start and seeing success at a rapid rate, just like Mahomes.

Witt led the MLB last year with 11 triples, became the first player in MLB history to record 30 home runs, 10 triples and 45 stolen bases in one season and he was the first Royals player to join the 30-30 club.

And seeing the success the Chiefs have had has certainly been motivation for Witt.

“In Kansas City, it’s a week before the Super Bowl and everyone’s wearing red, what do we need to do to make that blue?” Witt said.

There’s simply one answer to that: win.

The Royals finished 56-106 last year, tying their lowest win percentage in team history, but the Royals’ strong offseason could be an indication things are headed in the right direction.

Witt said the offseason moves fired him up.

“Seeing the guys that we signed this offseason, seeing our core group of guys that we have here, just kind of growing, maturing and just getting better each and every day.”

Witt and the Royals are looking to revitalize a franchise that hasn’t seen the postseason since their World Series title in 2015.