Longtime infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield has introduced his retirement, through his company at Warner Sports activities Administration.
“Hey guys,” Merrifield says, “You all ought to know that I made a decision some time again to retire. When it got here all the way down to it, it was a simple determination. Many elements performed a job in my determination, however the primary one was a 6 pound 6 ounce present from God my spouse and I have been blessed with in March of 2024. I used to be by no means gifted sufficient to only present up and play. Baseball required my full focus and vitality for me to compete on the stage I wished to, and I notice I can not give that effort. At this level in life, I’d a lot fairly chase round a toddler than chase sliders.” He goes on to thank the varied golf equipment he performed for and their followers whereas acknowledging those that believed in him alongside the way in which.
As Merrifield alluded to in his assertion, he had a popularity for being a scrappy grinder, versus probably the most naturally gifted athlete. However he nonetheless was in a position to carve out a formidable profession within the massive leagues as a late bloomer.
A ninth-round decide of the Royals in 2010, Merrifield was by no means actually on the radars of prospect evaluators as a minor leaguer. Regardless, he climbed the ladder, impressing the Royals in numerous methods. He may bounce everywhere in the diamond on protection. Offensively, he didn’t have a ton of energy or draw many walks, however he didn’t strike out a lot and will steal loads of bases as soon as he acquired on.
He acquired known as as much as the majors in Might of 2016 on the age of 27, considerably older than when most gamers make their debuts. On the time, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com tweeted that many individuals throughout the group seen Merrifield as the perfect man to have the ultimate spot on the roster. In different phrases, a utility man.
His utilization in that 2016 season mirrored that. He was optioned to the minors and recalled a couple of instances, finally entering into 81 massive league video games and taking 332 plate appearances. He solely hit two house runs and didn’t stroll a lot however produced a .283/.323/.392 batting line and 91 wRC+. He stole eight bases and performed the three non-shortstop infield positions in addition to the outfield corners.
In 2017, he confirmed he was able to being greater than only a utility man. He broke out on the plate that 12 months by hitting 19 house runs, serving to him produce a .288/.324/.460 line and 105 wRC+. He additionally swiped 34 luggage and successfully took over because the membership’s on a regular basis second baseman, whereas nonetheless often shifting to different spots.
He had arguably the very best season of his profession in 2018. His house run whole dropped to 12 however his stroll fee virtually doubled in comparison with the 12 months prior, leaping from 4.6% to eight.6%. A .352 batting common on balls in play additionally helped him out, resulting in a .304/.367/.438 line and 119 wRC+, with one other 45 stolen bases as well. FanGraphs credited him with 5.0 wins above alternative that 12 months, the very best tally of his profession.
Going into 2019, the Royals and Merrifield agreed to an extension. The deal assured him $16.25MM over 4 years with a membership choice for a fifth 12 months. That whole seems to be pretty modest to in comparison with some newer offers nevertheless it was a product of his late-bloomer standing. Since he didn’t debut till his age-27 season, he wasn’t going to qualify for arbitration till after he turned 30 and wasn’t slated without cost company till after his age-33 season. That deal might have sacrificed a little bit of future upside nevertheless it allowed him to ensure himself some life-changing cash forward of schedule.
His efficiency held fairly regular for the subsequent couple of years. Over 2019 and the shortened 2020 season, he slashed .297/.342/.456 for a 109 wRC+ whereas stealing one other 32 bases, whereas the emergence of Nicky Lopez bumped him to spending extra time within the outfield and fewer at second base. He was chosen to the All-Star workforce for the primary time in that 2019 marketing campaign, the primary of three honors he would finally earn.
His offense dipped a bit in 2021, as his .277/.317/.395 line translated to an 89 wRC+, although he nonetheless stole 40 bases. Going into 2022, it felt like perhaps the tip of his time as a Royal was drawing shut. It was the ultimate assured 12 months of that extension. He was additionally going into his age-33 season. The Royals have been rebuilding throughout this entire period and had rebuffed loads of commerce calls, however given his age and contract standing, the window gave the impression to be closing.
He caught with the Royals into the beginning of the 2022 season. He and the membership agreed to a reworked contract, with the membership preemptively triggering his 2023 membership choice and shifting among the wage commitments to the continued 2022 marketing campaign. The Royals have been nonetheless mired of their rebuild and would finally end the 12 months with a document of 65-97, so commerce discuss picked up that summer time.
Merrifield was finally dealt to the Blue Jays for minor leaguers Max Castillo and Samad Taylor. It was a little bit of a stunning touchdown spot on the time. With journey restrictions nonetheless in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, ten Royals gamers have been unable to cross the border to play in Toronto earlier that summer time resulting from not being vaccinated. Merrifield was one in every of them, which led to the query of how he would be capable to play for the Jays down the stretch, however he finally agreed to obtain the jab.
Although his manufacturing was a bit lackluster on the time of the commerce, he caught hearth down the stretch, hitting .281/.323/.446 for a 120 wRC+. He helped the Blue Jays earn a Wild Card spot, which allowed him to look within the postseason for the primary time in his profession. Nevertheless, the Jays have been swept out of the Wild Card spherical, falling 2-0 to the Mariners. He caught with the Jays in 2023, stealing one other 23 bases with offense only a bit beneath league common. The Jays grabbed one other Wild Card spot however have been swept out once more, this time by the Twins.
He lastly reached free company for the primary time in his profession, forward of his age-35 season, and landed an $8MM assure from the Phillies on a one-year deal. That didn’t actually pan out, as he hit .199/.277/.295 and was launched in July. “Philly, I preferred you far more than you preferred me,” he mentioned in his assertion at the moment. “Sorry I stunk for you.”
He then signed with Atlanta, which was a private thrill for him. In his assertion at the moment, he described them as his “childhood workforce,” having grown up within the Carolinas. He had a strong .248/.348/.336 displaying in 42 video games for Atlanta and made the membership’s Wild Card roster however didn’t seem in a sport because the membership was swept by the Padres.
Merrifield was a free agent this winter and didn’t seem in any rumors. In hindsight, evidently was as a result of he had no intention of taking part in this 12 months. He hangs up his spikes having performed in 1,147 video games with 4,866 plate appearances. He knocked 1,249 hits, scored 632 runs, drove in 485 and stole 218 bases. FanGraphs credit him with 19.8 wins above alternative for his profession, with Baseball Reference giving him 17.9. BR additionally pegs his profession earnings justs over $35MM. And he managed to do all of that regardless of not making it to the majors till properly after his twenty seventh birthday.
We at MLB Commerce Rumors salute Merrifield on a fantastic profession and want him the very best in no matter comes subsequent.
Photographs courtesy of Ron Chenoy, Wendell Cruz and Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Pictures
