Merrifield is unique in that, to his careers detriment, he has firmly been on both sides of that line. On Thursday, Heyman also reported that the Yankees who currently lead the AL East are unlikely to continue their pursuit of Merrifields teammate, Andrew Benintendi, due to his vaccination status. article ul,article ol{padding:0;margin:0 0 0 2.5rem;}/*!sc*/ Whitley David Merrifield is an active Major League Baseball player with the Toronto Blue Jays (2022-Today), who played previously for the Kansas City Royals (2016-2022). .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--team{margin:0 auto 0 0.25rem;height:40px;width:45px;}/*!sc*/ January 24, 1989 Whit Merrifield Stats by Baseball Almanac. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus{outline:1px dotted #041E42;}/*!sc*/ Whit is hot right now, manager Ned Yost said. As I begin to communicate with Whit about that, he made it very clear he was sorry for how that came out, Moore continued. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. It has him playing 117 games and hitting .259/.306/.386 with 10 home runs and 20 steals. Ill be in Toronto when the team goes there, Merrifield said. Do you have a blog? .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in{height:56px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield signed an extremely team-friendly deal entering the 2019 season and has really provided surplus value to Kansas City for the last three seasons. The 28-year-old Whit Merrifield is an American professional baseball second baseman and left fielder, he was born in Florence, South Carolina. Whit Merrifield is on Twitter at WhitMerrifield. Menu From 2017 to '21, he ranked top five in SB3 each year. [10] In 120 games between the two clubs, he slashed .319/.371/.470 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs. When Merrifield isnt starting a game, he'll be the perfect option off the bench late in games. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ The Cubs, Tigers, and the White Sox, oh my. Washington and the NY Mets are the best teams anyone has seen in almost 2,000 years. And even when he was called up for good in 2017, the Royals didnt see him as a core piece. button,[type="button"],[type="reset"],[type="submit"]{-webkit-appearance:button;}/*!sc*/ They love to run, so thats right up my alley.. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group:not(:first-child){margin-left:16px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group.cols{-webkit-column-count:2;column-count:2;-webkit-column-gap:8px;column-gap:8px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{width:100%;}}/*!sc*/ .huJzbO{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g166[id="Styles__VideoPlayerContainer-t94iyc-0"]{content:"XOHMa,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo a{-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__input{-webkit-appearance:none;position:relative;height:40px;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075);color:#000;font-size:16px;width:100%;min-width:250px;background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;border-radius:6px;padding:0.25rem 1rem;line-height:1.42857143;margin-bottom:2px;}/*!sc*/ @supports (-moz-appearance:none){.koKsQt .share-button__square,.koKsQt .share-button__email{-webkit-filter:brightness(0%);filter:brightness(0%);}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__image{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:0.5rem;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:55px;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield was a Bugatti parked in a trailer park, and the Royals clung ever more desperately to their star the louder the noises rang out that Merrifield was the perfect trade chip. High School: Davie County HS (Mocksville, NC), School: University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), Debut: Merrifield, who made his major league debut with the Royals in 2016, is slated to be a free agent after next year. Players are running whenever possible, and sometimes when it doesnt look possible. data-styled.g165[id="Styles__AspectRatioContent-sc-1t1lmmv-1"]{content:"fvEQJr,"}/*!sc*/ [25] He was among ten Royals players who were in violation of Canada's COVID-19 vaccination requirement and unable to travel to Toronto for a four-game weekend series right before the All-Star break two weeks earlier in July. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__subnav-arrow{-webkit-transform:rotate(-90deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-90deg);transform:rotate(-90deg);margin-right:0;width:11px;height:11px;float:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button-menu{-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:1023px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-items{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). Whit Merrifield is on Instagram at whitmerrifield. KANSAS CITY, Mo. I have to accept that and move on. window.appId = '' .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .icon,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__group-title{padding:14px 10px;}/*!sc*/ 2 All-Star ( 2019, 2021) 3 AL stolen base leader (2017, 2018, 2021) Whitley David Merrifield (born January 24, 1989) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). [26] On August 4, 2022, Merrifield announced that he was now vaccinated and would be able to play in the team's first game in Toronto since being acquired. summary{display:list-item;}/*!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. .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{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;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ [31], Merrifield's father, Bill, played college baseball for Wake Forest University,[32] and spent six seasons in Minor League Baseball, primarily as a third baseman. .hUHmCp > article > header,.hUHmCp > article > section{grid-column:1 / span 12;}/*!sc*/ Positions: KC Royals Trades: How the midsummer deals worked out, KC Royals: A player the club shouldnt want to lose, KC Royals News: Coach search, Nicky Lopez, old friend. Salvador Perez to 3rd. The moment he was waiting on might just be here. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g20[id="imagestyle__ImageWrapper-sc-xw1tzz-0"]{content:"evGxub,cWQXyp,"}/*!sc*/ And Espinals bat cooled off at the end of the season. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Hes 34, but hes only one year removed from a 3.6 bWAR season. .ezZJVn:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .evwvnJ p{margin-top:0;}/*!sc*/ small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input.right{padding-right:32px;}/*!sc*/ 2-1 KC Bottom 3 Carlos Santana doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Aaron Judge. 26 games in he hit a big .182/239/227. Whits father Bill Merrifield, hit a measly .400 at Wake Forest during his college career. His contract, with $2.75 million due in 2022 and a $10.5 million option in 2023, certainly helps as well. Merrifields comments sparked some backlash, with Royals president Dayton Moore sharing Thursday on The Program with Soren Petro that he was very disappointed by what he heard. Whit Merrifield made $7,000,000.00 last year. Merrifield had a very slow start with the Jays. .bZhBFV img{max-width:220px;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:100%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;}}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals the westin kierland villas; learn flags of the world quiz; etihad airways soccer team players It fits him perfectly, Schneider said. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content{-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}}/*!sc*/ We present them here for purely educational purposes. .blUWSx .share-button__close{top:6px;left:5px;}/*!sc*/ Because I understand what Canada has in place right now. Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-man: Whit Merrifield, The former Astros GM joins as the Vice President of Baseball Strategy, Players with Toronto on their no-trade list, Primer on Transactions: Options, Outrights, and Waivers, Blue Jays Option and Outright Status Table. Maybe you dont empathize with Merrifield. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0 16px 0 0;font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}/*!sc*/ This is a trade that the Blue Jays needed to make. .groqnz .ad-body-container{border-color:#dddddd;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 1px 0;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;margin:0 2%;min-height:343px;width:96%;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ 0 .hHLkAw input{position:relative;font-size:15px;line-height:32px;color:#444444;font-weight:400;height:32px;padding:0 8px;width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;border-radius:5px;border:1px solid #444444;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ [24], On August 2, 2022, Merrifield was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Max Castillo and Samad Taylor. The 33-year-old Merrifield is having the worst season of his career, slashing .240/.290/.352 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0;position:relative;vertical-align:baseline;}/*!sc*/ For a player who was worth 1.5 fWAR in . He spent his entire professional career . 11 junio, 2020. @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club],.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite]{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield had 126 hits last season and 1,035 hits over his career. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline{margin-right:auto;display:none;}/*!sc*/ .epHHrr.youtube iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input:-ms-input-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbcom08","linkInternalFilters":"mlb"} data-styled.g158[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Message-sc-d7sh2p-3"]{content:"evwvnJ,"}/*!sc*/ Schneider was just as thrilled. May 18, 2016 Merrifield graduated from Davie County High School in Mocksville, North Carolina. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb{-webkit-box-flex:99;-webkit-flex-grow:99;-ms-flex-positive:99;flex-grow:99;padding-right:0;padding-left:28px;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield was notably one of 10 Royals players not to make the trip to Toronto in July due to his COVID-19 vaccination status. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner{opacity:1;}/*!sc*/ [16], Merrifield began the 2017 season with Omaha, but was recalled in April after nine games and spent the remainder of the season with Kansas City. template{display:none;}/*!sc*/ [12], On June 13, 2016, Whit hit both his first major league triple and home run against the Cleveland Indians. .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*/ This year, Merrifield is hitting just .236, with a .289 on-base percentage and .342 slugging . .iQELft{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before,.mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player:before{color:#737373;font-size:12px;position:absolute;left:10px;top:10px;padding-top:12px;}/*!sc*/ Players are running whenever possible, and sometimes when it doesnt look possible. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. .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*/ .fAmXvR{background:#f3f3f3;border-radius:6px;color:#444444;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:500;padding:16px 16px 24px;}/*!sc*/ Merrifields skills and talents are easy to spot. .mHQYb .p-search__input--icon{position:absolute;top:0.75rem;right:1rem;}/*!sc*/ [type="number"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield. .ggWmAj .sticky-header__share button{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ .hspSPq:hover{cursor:pointer;background-color:#0462CC;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link:hover{background-color:#e2e2e2;color:#002867;border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top [class$='__nav-item__text']{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield was called up again and finished with 1.2 fWAR in only 81 games. Max pitched in 5 games, 4 starts and had a 9.16 ERA. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{background:#ffffff;border-top:solid 4px #002867;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);box-shadow:6px 6px 15px -3px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);left:-99em;opacity:0;padding:10px;position:absolute;right:0;-webkit-transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;width:160px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ He is under contract through next season. Home; About Us. data-styled.g11[id="buttonstyle__StyledButton-sc-vlv7w5-1"]{content:"hspSPq,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav{background-color:#081c3b;width:145px;-ms-overflow-style:none;}/*!sc*/ Alex Rios and Omar Infante, despite every evidence to the contrary. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo img{min-height:40px;max-height:40px;}}/*!sc*/ Something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes. Star player Alex Gordon injured his groin attempting to make a catch in deep left field. Free Agent: 2024, More Whit Merrifield Pages at Baseball Reference, 2022 Blue Jays 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%. Merrifield's father, Bill, played college baseball for Wake Forest University, and spent six seasons in Minor League Baseball, primarily as a third baseman. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb a{text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield, who had the CWS-winning hit in 2010 for South Carolina, had . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--spillover{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ My Blog. 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. After completing his schooling at Davie County High School, he studied at the University of South Carolina. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .p-icon--login{width:35px;height:35px;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina from 2008 to 2010. He could be part of a complicated platoon, playing left or right on Kiermaiers days off, with Varsho or Springer moving to center. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ Whit Merrifield was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 9th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). .mHQYb .p-search-item{display:block;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline--no-sponsor{margin-right:0;}/*!sc*/ Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-track,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background:transparent;}/*!sc*/ We've received your submission. Im not going to kick him when hes down, because I do know what Whit Merrifield has meant to our team, the great work that he does in this community and I just think it was a very poor choice of words., Moore later added, Its unfortunate, but we got to try to move on from it. In 2014, Oakland, Seattle, St Louis, Baltimore, and Pittsburg were as hot as Kate Upton on the Sports Illustrated cover in 2013 when she posed in an Atlanta Braves uniform along with namesake outfielder Justin and Melvin Upton. .eJdqRG a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g172[id="Styles__AppContainer-jwcsl0-0"]{content:"hUHmCp,"}/*!sc*/. coln's grandfather was a resident of Rockingham county at that time, and being of suitable age for service, and that the corporal bore the name of Abraham Lincoln, if seems quite prob . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__revenue{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield married his wife Jordan Michael on December 28, 2019. .dLQAwR{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:8px;min-height:48px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-right:8px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--sm{font-size:12px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ [1][2][3] In the second game of the championship series at the 2010 College World Series, Merrifield hit a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give South Carolina the championship. Whit Merrifield has never won a World Series. .hHLkAw input.left{padding-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ Of course, it didnt stop there. [11] His first Major League hit came off of David Price. .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ [type="search"]::-webkit-search-decoration{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield returned to Northwest Arkansas to start 2014 and was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers during the season. Lorenzo Cain got four hits Tues night in Minnesota which followed Salvador Perezsfive hit game Monday. .mHQYb input[type='search']::-webkit-search-cancel-button{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ Gambling problem? * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Royals vs. Its as simple as that. .ebrWqN:-moz-loading{color:#f3f3f3;}/*!sc*/ .fuMUTu{pointer-events:none;width:16px;height:16px;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ pretty polly sheer shine tights whit merrifield grandfather. (92-70, 2nd place in AL East). @media (min-width:375px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--shortname{display:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:inline-block;}}/*!sc*/ [33] In September 1987, Bill Merrifield was briefly on the active roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was sent to the Florida Instructional League without making an MLB appearance,[34] rendering him a "phantom ballplayer". .kKeedG:hover{border-bottom:none;color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ taylormade tp putter weights. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player:before{border-top:1px solid #ddd;content:'Players';left:10px;right:10px;}/*!sc*/ It will also be crucial for Merrifield to deliver on his expectations as his contract includes an $18 million mutual option in 2024, with a $500,000 buy-out. hr{box-sizing:content-box;height:0;overflow:visible;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon__close{width:18px;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield may not be the player he was in years past, but his .240/.290/.352 batting line with six homers and . Second Baseman and Outfielder, Born: Hes hit .300 and led the league in hits before, but he is batting .242 with a .645 OPS this season. /*-->*/ It was his first long ball since July 8 . KC Royals rookie Whit Merrifield's 86-year-old grandfather has been an inspiration to Royals fans and players. [29], Merrifield is a Christian. Stephen King stuff. He is the definition of a professional hitter, someone who can make contact with every kind of pitch and hit the ball all over the field. Who was in? In a unique and potentially unprecedented situation, the Royals traded Merrifield to the Toronto Blue Jays just minutes before the trade deadline Tuesday. .evGxub{display:inline-block;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ Its sad, too. Thats why hes here.. fieldset{padding:0.35em 0.75em 0.625em;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__input--icon.close-icon:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .jDETbc{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:40px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g143[id="Styles__SocialContainer-sc-1h38xz1-0"]{content:"blLcNM,"}/*!sc*/ Cheslor Cuthbert could. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Blue Jays brought in Whit Merrifield's speed and versatility to give their depth a shot in the arm, which will be easier now that he has one in his. data-styled.g159[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Input-sc-d7sh2p-4"]{content:"kwDmpG,"}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-list{position:absolute;list-style:none;margin:0;margin-left:2px;padding:0;margin-top:3px;margin-right:10px;}/*!sc*/ Feb. 8Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield made his big-league debut in 2016, but it very nearly came a year earlier. .mHQYb .p-search__status{left:-9999px;position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,1fr);grid-gap:24px;font-size:1rem;}/*!sc*/ He also led the American League with 34 stolen bases, the fewest total for a league leader since Luis Aparicio led the AL with 31 in 1962. Whit Merrifield was born on January 24, 1989. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player.p-search-item--es:before{content:'Jugadores';}/*!sc*/ h1{font-size:2em;margin:0.67em 0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top__nav-items{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield has long been an everyday player for the Royals, playing all over the diamond, and interim manager John Schneider expects him to be in the lineup most days." @media (min-width:768px){body.article .ad-top-container{min-height:106px;}}/*!sc*/ He did express an openness to receiving the vaccine should he be traded to a contending team, which will be necessary now that he'll have to play home games in Canada. The Blue Jays are bringing the game to opponents doorsteps, and the new guy loves it.\n\nI love running, Merrifield said, grinning. [hidden]{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Odds & lines subject to change. .ggWmAj .sticky-header__header{grid-column:1 / span 8;}/*!sc*/ .ggWmAj .sticky-header__share{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row-reverse;-ms-flex-direction:row-reverse;flex-direction:row-reverse;grid-column:9 / 13;}/*!sc*/ But it is more than ironic. They lost more than 100 games in both 2018 and 2019 with Merrifield playing at the peak of his brilliance, notching 398 hits as the Royals decomposed around him. Team Date Transaction; November 16, 2022: 2B Whit Merrifield and changed number to 15. @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*/ Canada does not allow unvaccinated people into the country, which has prevented dozens of . After barely losing in the final game of the 2014 World Series, the 2015 Kansas . .mHQYb .p-search{display:block;position:relative;color:#333333;width:inherit;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:normal;}/*!sc*/ Kyle Isbel #28. . AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:500px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:60%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:60%;flex-basis:60%;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb input[type='search']::-ms-clear{display:none;width:0;height:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g170[id="Styles__TimestampContainer-sc-8rwtua-0"]{content:"hedPca,"}/*!sc*/