Kansas City Royals: Whit Merrifield Here To Stay

Whit Merrifield isn’t the typical rookie. The Kansas City Royals super utility man is 27-years-old and two years older than first baseman Eric Hosmer. The guy might be older than most rookies but he’s a solid baseball player.

Merrifield got called up from the minor leagues when both left fielder Alex Gordon and third baseman Mike Moustakas were injured when they collided in Chicago three weeks ago. The Kansas City Royals needed his versatility in the big leagues. Merrifield can play any position except pitcher and catcher, basically filling two voids with one player.

While playing for the Omaha Storm Chasers, Whit Merrifield had a decent slash line of .278/.342/.458 through 36 games this season. He smashed five home runs and 11 doubles. He added 14 walks and 16 stolen bases as well.

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Since being called up to the big leagues, he’s got an impressive slash line of .330/.344/.484 through 22 games played. In less than 100 plate appearances (93) Merrifield has 30 hits, nine doubles, one triple and one home run. He’s scored 30 runs and has driven in six for the Royals.

Yesterday, Merrifield had himself a game to remember. He hit his first big league triple to lead off the game for the Kansas City Royals against opposing pitcher, Carlos Carrasco.

The ball carried over the head of Cleveland’s right fielder, Lonnie Chisenhall and bounced off the wall. Chisenhall took a horrible route to the ball and couldn’t make the catch.

A couple of at bats later, Merrifield punished a ball over the left field bullpen for his first major league home run of his career. The no doubt shot, bounced off a spectators hands and fell into the bullpen were Luke Hochevar saved the milestone ball for Merrifield.

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Merrifield scored both runs in the 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. He received the “Salvy Splash” after the game. Salvador Perez (Salvy) drenched him in orange Gatorade in celebratory style only Salvy can do. This is Merrifield’s second “Salvy Splash” in a row. He had three hits in the final game against the White Sox on Sunday making him the candidate for the splash.

Merrifield has gotten a hit in 19 of the 22 games he’s played in for the Kansas City Royals. He’s reached base in all but one game. He’s been so good that manager Ned Yost had to shuffle the lineup. Yost put Merrifield in the lead off spot and moved former lead off man, Alcides Escobar, down one spot to the two hole.

Merrifield has played left field, third base and second base for Kansas City. He has one error. The error occurred at third base where he’s been asked to play three games. He’s played in left field seven times and second base 14 games (13 started). While working at second base, he’s helped create 10 double plays.

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No one knows how long Merrifield’s major league success will last. His swing looks as if it should continue to work at the big league level. It might be too early to project him into the future with so little playing time as a big league player. The opposing pitchers may have not made the right adjustments to him yet. Only time will tell if Whit Merrifield stays or goes. For now he stays.