Kansas City Royals: Whit Merrifield best Royals second baseman of 2010s

As the 2010s wind down, we’re taking a look at the best Kansas City Royals players at every position. Next up is second base, where Whit Merrifield stepped up as the best of the decade.

No one would have predicted Whit Merrifield to become the player that he’s become, but here he is; the best Kansas City Royals second baseman of the 2010s.

Merrifield was drafted in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft out of the University of South Carolina. He is most remembered for his days at South Carolina and his biggest moment for the Gamecocks was hitting the walk-off hit to win the College World Series for South Carolina in 2010. Merrifield had to wait until 2016 to make his MLB debut (at age 27) and once in the majors, he proved he belonged all along.

Whit Merrifield has been the Royals best position player in the second half of the decade and one of the few players to really get excited about. He produced this stat line:

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• 546 games
• .296/.344/.445
• 49 HRs
• 160 extra base hits
• 107 SBs
• .983 fielding percentage

Merrifield has only been selected to one All-Star Game (2019) during his time with the Royals, but has twice led the AL in hits (2018 and 2019), twice led the AL in SBs (2017 and 2018), and once led the AL in triples (2019).

Merrifield’s most memorable moment for the Royals was his bunt single to extend his hitting streak to 31 games a Royals record.

Merrifield signed one of the most team friendly contract extensions worth 4 years/$16.25 million locking him on the roster until 2024. He has been priceless for the Royals with his positional flexibility making appearances at first base, third base, second base, and each of the outfield positions during his tenure.

Whit Merrifield is easily the most coveted trade target on the Royals roster and even if he doesn’t finish his favorable contract with the Royals, he will bring back talent to make the next contending roster that much better.

For now though, Royals fans are thrilled that Whit Merrifield is still a member of the Kansas City Royals. Even though Merrifield has the ability to play many different positions, which is another reason he’s such a good player, he spent the most time at second base during the 2010s, and was the best of the best there.

That’s why he’s the best Royals second baseman from the past decade.