Kansas City Royals: Whit Merrifield becoming star Royals need
The Kansas City Royals struck gold when they drafted Whit Merrifield in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Merrifield has become one of the most popular players on the team.
In a season where there hasn’t been much to root for, Kansas City Royals fans have been able to lean on utility man Whit Merrifield. It’s hard not to like Merrifield and that became all too obvious when talks of trading him arose earlier this summer.
Merrifield did not get traded and while it might have made sense to flip the second baseman in a deal, there was a collective sigh of relief when he remained put. Merrifield is a rising star for the Royals and while that might sound silly to say about a nearly 30-year old ball player in only his third season, it’s the truth.
For one, Merrifield is a good player. As of Sunday afternoon, the South Carolina Gamecock is slashing .312/.377/.448 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 585 plate appearances.
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Merrifield is good with the bat, but he’s also a threat with his legs, already totaling 30 stolen bases this season. He stole 34 a year ago, so it’s very possible that Merrifield breaks his own record.
Another reason why the Royals need Whit Merrifield right now is that he can play just about anywhere on the diamond. He’s mostly used at second base, but has spent a considerable amount of time in center field as well.
Merrifield has also spent time in the corner outfield spots and he’s been used sparingly at first base as well. The guy is a wizard defensively and those are the kind of players that the Kansas City Royals covet. He’s fast, has good plate discipline, and can play solid defense. What more could a team ask of their star player?
The only problem with Whit Merrifield has been his age. He’s 29 years old and it’s unlikely he continues to be this good of a player in the coming years, but my argument to that is that this time last year it looked as if Merrifield wouldn’t be able to replicate his early career success and he’s done even better in 2018.
Merrifield is an affordable player and he’s likable. He wants to be in Kansas City. He’s impossible not to like. That’s what makes Whit Merrifield the star that this organization has been looking for this season.
The big name guys are long gone, but Merrifield is helping fans forget about them. He might not have made the All-Star Game this year, but he’s still turning heads and that’s cool to see. He very well might just be the guy who becomes the face of this rebuild.