Then, in 2015, the Royals didnt break camp with Merrifield, and on July 8, Merrifield was hitting .289/.348/.393 with a miniscule strikeout rate of 11.4%. And even when he was called up for good in 2017, the Royals didnt see him as a core piece. .evwvnJ p{margin-top:0;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo img{min-height:40px;max-height:40px;}}/*!sc*/ Opinion | Whit Merrifield believes he can help the Blue Jays despite He was optioned back to Omaha in July and recalled in September. *{box-sizing:border-box;}/*!sc*/ [35][36], Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 22:52, Canada's COVID-19 vaccination requirement, List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders, List of University of South Carolina people, Major League Baseball consecutive games played streaks, "Merrifield, former CWS hero, is back in Omaha", "Four years after delivering a CWS title to South Carolina, Merrifield's a hit with Chasers", "Whit Merrifield Selected By Kansas City Royals In Ninth Round Of 2010 MLB Draft", "Whit Merrifield Minor League Statistics & History", "Merrifield's focus keeps him 'locked in', "Kansas City Royals call up Whit Merrifield from minors", "Merrifield notches hit in major league debut", "Fan Creates Ode to Royals Rookie Cool Whit Merrifield", "Whit Merrifield Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball", "Congrats to Whit Merrifield, your AL stolen base champ! In 2015 it was Toronto, Yankees, Texas, Houston, and the Angels. .fuMUTu{pointer-events:none;width:16px;height:16px;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield. data-styled.g66[id="textInputstyle__styledTextInput-sc-q34wel-2"]{content:"hHLkAw,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{background-color:#ffffff;width:calc(100vw - 145px);}/*!sc*/ button:-moz-focusring,[type="button"]:-moz-focusring,[type="reset"]:-moz-focusring,[type="submit"]:-moz-focusring{outline:1px dotted ButtonText;}/*!sc*/ Earlier this week, Whitfield elaborated on his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which is a requirement to enter Canada. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true']{background-color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Aroldis Chapmans Royals career starts with weird injury at home, Red Sox trade for shortstop in latest offseason twist, Aroldis Chapman has new team after ugly Yankees ending, Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. Despite a dearth of other options and available playing time for a guy who would have fit perfectly in a bench role in 2015 and as a starter in 2016 and 2017, the Royals kept choosing worse options. Whit Merrifield Stats by Baseball Almanac. button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;line-height:1.15;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ He looks like he can barely walk. Merrifield was ready for the big leagues in 2014, when he hit .340/.373/.474 in Triple-A as a 25-year-old. Purple Cain, etc. @media (min-width:768px){h1.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:2.488rem;}h2.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:1.44rem;}}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ But things improved. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Merrifields skills and talents are easy to spot. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent::after{border-color:transparent transparent #057AFF;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--current{border-color:#057AFF;}}/*!sc*/ That might change down the road. Report: Mariners are making a push to trade for INF/OF Whit Merrifield @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header--inner{margin:auto;max-width:none;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ h1{font-size:2em;margin:0.67em 0;}/*!sc*/ He played center field and hit eighth in his debut, but Merrifield's position and lineup spot will change most days. textarea{overflow:auto;}/*!sc*/ Hes a talented defender who can play half a dozen positions and one of the more skillful basestealing artists of recent memory. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon{display:inline-block;-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;line-height:20px;}/*!sc*/ Right or wrong, I didnt do it on a whim. template{display:none;}/*!sc*/ I cant imagine there is any possibility that the Jays will be picking up that option. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item{width:100%;-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;background-color:#081c3b;border-bottom:1px solid #002867;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ .jiNMQU{background:#f3f3f3;padding-top:56.25%;position:relative;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield is a Second Baseman and Outfielder. [type="search"]{-webkit-appearance:textfield;outline-offset:-2px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item a{bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ button,select{text-transform:none;}/*!sc*/ Royals' Whit Merrifield iron man streak ends due to toe injury @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ code,kbd,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ Do you have a sports website? Im excited to be a Blue Jay, and Im excited to get to Toronto and play at Rogers Centre.. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item:focus a{outline:1px dotted #fff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{color:#aaaaaa;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ Where youll notice Merrifield immediately, though, is on the bases. Do you have a blog? .hYmwpY{display:block;}/*!sc*/ Economic Development Research Organization. Thats fine. data-styled.g10[id="buttonstyle__Label-sc-vlv7w5-0"]{content:"iwXciG,"}/*!sc*/ Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account{-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;padding:0 0 0 4px;white-space:nowrap;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ Canada does not allow unvaccinated people into the country, which has prevented dozens of . When Merrifield isnt starting a game, he'll be the perfect option off the bench late in games.\n\nIt fits him perfectly, Schneider said. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 12:52AM. data-styled.g158[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Message-sc-d7sh2p-3"]{content:"evwvnJ,"}/*!sc*/ Its cool to talk about that type of stuff with a guy who really has a passion for it. Remembering Whit Merrifield, who the Royals mismanaged from the beginning, Weekend Rumblings - News for March 4, 2023. data-styled.g156[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Fieldset-sc-d7sh2p-1"]{content:"HQoYx,"}/*!sc*/ h2.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:1.2rem;margin-bottom:8px;color:#666666;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos--no-sponsor{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ Merrifield, who was in a four-man competition for the starting second-base job this spring, said he was told at the end of camp to just go down there [to Omaha] and work., Merrifield principally was called up to jump-start a sagging offense. data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ Merrifield was called up again and finished with 1.2 fWAR in only 81 games. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.hYmwpY{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header [class$='__nav-item__text'],.mHQYb header.mlb-header [class$='__nav-item__link'],.mHQYb header.mlb-header [class$='__button-text']{text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--spillover{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb input[type='search']::-ms-clear{display:none;width:0;height:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list{z-index:50;min-width:250px;border-radius:6px;-webkit-mask-image:-webkit-radial-gradient(#ffffff,#000000);}/*!sc*/ January 24, 1989 .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight:hover{background-color:lighten;}/*!sc*/ The result was that the Royals kept Merrifield from experiencing anything remotely close to competitive baseball when he could have made a difference for a competing team while simultaneously wasting their single best trade asset in a decade. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;color:#000000;}/*!sc*/ But even then, when Merrifield had demonstrated his competency, he didnt win the starting second base job out of springthough he was the best option. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.kwDmpG{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link--message{position:absolute;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;height:100%;left:-105px;bottom:2px;padding:0 5px;border-radius:5px;background:#041E42;color:#ffffff;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:12px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__primary{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;width:100%;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield and his father, Bill, are amazed by the newfound fame of Whit's grandfather. But now that the biggest question of all has been answered, Toronto can exhale and focus on the postseason race ahead. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(1),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ whit merrifield grandfather .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail{margin-top:auto;height:45px;}/*!sc*/ Ex-Royals manager Ned Yost admits his initial evaluation of Whit - MSN But it is more than ironic. @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover span{color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline img{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item__subnav-arrow{opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ It fits him perfectly, Schneider said. .dLQAwR a{color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__status{left:-9999px;position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ Heck, Johnny Gomes somehow could. [7][8] In 47 games he hit .253/.317/.409 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. abbr[title]{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration:underline dotted;text-decoration:underline dotted;}/*!sc*/ When Alex Gordon was injured in a game in July 2015, Whit Merrifield was . Exceeded rookie limits during 2016 season, 2023 Contract Status: Probably 275 wins between them. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item__link{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:14px;}/*!sc*/ For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Merrifield made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals on May 18, 2016, instantly batting in the top third of the lineup and soon taking the starting second baseman job from Omar Infante. (Age 27-115d, Merrifield is consistent, too. .hSQYJO{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:35px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g163[id="Styles__OEmbedContainer-oapuup-0"]{content:"epHHrr,"}/*!sc*/ And/or he could take a share of second base if Santiago Espinal hits as he did in the second half of last season. 2-1 KC Bottom 3 Carlos Santana doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Aaron Judge. (AP) Whit Merrifield said last month he might be willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if it meant playing for a team in contention, even though he had refused to get the . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar{width:0px;}/*!sc*/ And when Merrifield broke out, the Royals, doomed by nearly a decade of draft class failures and league-worst pitching development, were toast. . He also tied for the major league lead in sacrifice flies, with 12. 2021 Season. .fuMUTu rect{fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball for the YarmouthDennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and in 2009 returned to the league to play with the Chatham Anglers. [type="number"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto;}/*!sc*/ When I first heard that, I was very disappointed. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__nav-item{margin-right:8px;width:18px;height:14px;float:left;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/