Kansas City Royals: Can Whit Merrifield Stay Consistent in 2017

When Whit Merrifield was called up to the major leagues last season for the Kansas City Royals, it was all fun and games to start. As the season rolled along, Merrifield began to feel the pressure build. Can he become a clutch player in KC?

The 2016 season for the Kansas City Royals could be summed up with one word: Injuries. Injuries derailed the Royals’ chances of truly contending for the crown, but it did help in some circumstances.

When the Royals’ roster was plagued with the injury bug early on in the season, the club called up Whit Merrifield from Omaha to make his MLB debut. The former Gamecock had a distinguished career at the collegiate level and the Royals hoped he could blossom into a big time player for the team.

Merrifield became a Royals sensation within days of being in Kansas City, and he soon earned the nickname “Two-Hit Whit” for his ability to put the ball in play.

By the end of May, Merrifield had a batting average of .356 in 45 at bats. He had 16 hits during that time and scored ten runs while plating four RBI. Two-Hit Whit was in business, but as soon as opposing teams began to figure him out, his production diminished quickly at the plate.

Merrifield’s .170 batting average in the month of July (a month in which the Royals struggled in all together) earned him a trip back to the minor leagues, where he stayed until September call-ups.

While Merrifield ended the season with an average of .283, it wasn’t all sunshine and sprinkles for the former South Carolina Gamecock and the 2017 season will be a huge one for him.

More from KC Kingdom

For starters, Merrifield is in the race for the starting second baseman job. Should he earn that, he’ll likely be one of the top guys in the lineup due to his ability to get on base last season. If Merrifield loses out on the job, the Royals can literally put him just about anywhere on the diamond, which is big.

Last season, Merrifield spent time at every position in the outfield and all in the infield except for shortstop and catcher. The Royals could use that as a reason not to give him the second base job, as he could fill in just about anywhere else on the diamond.

If Whit Merrifield can be a Ben Zobrist-type of player for the Royals, then this team will be legit in 2017. Hopefully Merrifield can piece together a nice season and step up when needed rather than falter down the stretch like he did during his rookie season.

Most rookies have those types of moments though and Merrifield should have learned from it so that he can be effective at the plate in 2017. If he doesn’t, the Royals have failed with yet another prospect, and that’s just not something fans want to hear with all of the free agents nearing the end of their contracts.

What do you think, Royals fans? Will Whit Merrifield step up and be one of the better players for the Kansas City Royals in 2017?

Home/Kansas City Royals