Kansas City Royals: Whit Merrifield more than deserving of All-Star spot

The 2019 MLB All-Star rosters are set and Whit Merrifield will be representing the Kansas City Royals in this year’s summer classic. Merrifield absolutely deserves to be the representative for the Royals.

When Hunter Dozier was in the All-Star starters election, it appeared that he more than likely would be the one representing the Kansas City Royals when the MLB All-Star Game was underway in Cleveland next week.

Instead, Whit Merrifield finally earned his first trip into the big game. He’s been named as a reserve  for the American League and is listed as an outfielder. Merrifield’s ability to play several different positions ended up helping him out, as the managers could slot him in wherever there was room.

Merrifield is currently slashing .301/.351/.497 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI in 352 at bats while swiping 11 bags. The former South Carolina Gamecock should have been the Royals representative in last year’s summer classic, but Salvador Perez was the one chosen despite not really deserving it.

It wasn’t long ago when the Royals were getting three or four starters (or seven?) into the All-Star Game, but things changed quickly after the team won the title in 2015. The Royals have had just one guy represent them the last two years, even though a strong case could have been made for Dozier to also make it this summer.

Dozier came in second place in the starting election at third base and it felt like that would be a sign that he’d be the team’s rep in the game. Instead, he’s on the outside looking in despite slashing .294/.379/.566 while hitting 13 home runs and 44 RBI.

Dozier’s injury that sidelined him for a few weeks could have ultimately cost him a spot in the summer classic, but Merrifield earned it. The Royals being as bad as they are is likely why they only have one representative.

These are the years when teams being required to have one player wearing their cap is a good thing. It means Royals fans will have someone to look forward to watching and Whit Merrifield is easy to cheer for.

While this obviously isn’t as exciting as the 2015 All-Star Game was, Whit Merrifield has been the man in Kansas City and with the recent news that Dayton Moore doesn’t plan to trade him, Royals fans can sit back and enjoy watching their guy take part in this year’s summer classic.