.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;padding:10px;width:100%;-webkit-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid;word-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;}/*!sc*/ After barely losing in the final game of the 2014 World Series, the 2015 Kansas . @media (max-width:350px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ He also tied for the major league lead in sacrifice flies, with 12. 0 (Age 27-115d, .kwDmpG input{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px;}/*!sc*/ .bZhBFV{margin:0 auto 16px;}/*!sc*/ .kKeedG{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:none;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ Had the Royals called on Merrifield, he probably wouldnt have started. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{width:100%;-webkit-order:-1;-ms-flex-order:-1;order:-1;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container{-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;-webkit-flex-basis:80%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:80%;flex-basis:80%;}}/*!sc*/ Do you have a blog? [21], In 2021, Merrifield hit .277/.317/.395 with 10 home runs and 74 RBIs. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(3){-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);transform:rotate(-45deg);}/*!sc*/ He could platoon in center, Kevin Kiermaier really shouldnt be playing against left-handed pitching. .evwvnJ{line-height:1.5;margin:0 auto 16px;max-width:470px;padding-left:0;position:relative;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__subnav-arrow{-webkit-transform:rotate(-90deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-90deg);transform:rotate(-90deg);margin-right:0;width:11px;height:11px;float:none;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-decoration,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-cancel-button,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-results-button,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-results-decoration{display:none;}/*!sc*/ [31], Merrifield's father, Bill, played college baseball for Wake Forest University,[32] and spent six seasons in Minor League Baseball, primarily as a third baseman. Hes going to fit right in. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb{-webkit-box-flex:99;-webkit-flex-grow:99;-ms-flex-positive:99;flex-grow:99;padding-right:0;padding-left:28px;}/*!sc*/ h1{font-size:2em;margin:0.67em 0;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM .content .share-btn{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;margin-left:auto;min-width:32px;position:relative;top:-16px;}/*!sc*/ He tied for the MLB lead with 42 doubles, and led the American League with 40 steals. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. I cant imagine there is any possibility that the Jays will be picking up that option. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-weight:700;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:10px 12px;}/*!sc*/ Feb. 8Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield made his big-league debut in 2016, but it very nearly came a year earlier. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--team{margin:0 auto 0 0.25rem;height:40px;width:45px;}/*!sc*/ Prior to this weeks controversy, The Posts Jon Heyman reported in late June how the Royals are talking more seriously about Merrifield in trade discussions than in the past, according to a rival exec. From 2017 to '21, he ranked top five in SB3 each year. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ [10] In 120 games between the two clubs, he slashed .319/.371/.470 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs. Merrifield was a ninth-round draft pick of the Royals out of the University of South Carolina in 2010. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) .kwDmpG{display:block;font-weight:500;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g155[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Form-sc-d7sh2p-0"]{content:"fAmXvR,"}/*!sc*/ Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Merrifield signed an extremely team-friendly deal entering the 2019 season and has really provided surplus value to Kansas City for the last three seasons. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight:hover .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ The result was that the Royals kept Merrifield from experiencing anything remotely close to competitive baseball when he could have made a difference for a competing team while simultaneously wasting their single best trade asset in a decade. @media (min-width:768px){h1.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:2.488rem;}h2.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:1.44rem;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__input{-webkit-appearance:none;position:relative;height:40px;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075);color:#000;font-size:16px;width:100%;min-width:250px;background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;border-radius:6px;padding:0.25rem 1rem;line-height:1.42857143;margin-bottom:2px;}/*!sc*/ In 2015 it was Toronto, Yankees, Texas, Houston, and the Angels. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){top:16px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header a:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header button:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header [class*='__nav']:focus{outline:1px dotted #fff;}/*!sc*/ Charlie Riedel. in Florence, SC .groqnz{margin-bottom:32px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. When I first heard that, I was very disappointed. Then, when they finally realized what they had in Merrifield, the front office refused to trade him even though it was the best and obvious move for the franchise to everyone except those in power. Merrifield is under control through 2023 at a reasonable cost (approx. He could be part of a complicated platoon, playing left or right on Kiermaiers days off, with Varsho or Springer moving to center. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Although Kansas City got off to a fiery start with a 3-1 win, the 33-year-old utility man remains in hot water following his recent remarks. When the Royals travelled to Toronto from June 14-17, Merrifield was one of 10 unvaccinated players left behind. Salvador Perez to 3rd. [25] He was among ten Royals players who were in violation of Canada's COVID-19 vaccination requirement and unable to travel to Toronto for a four-game weekend series right before the All-Star break two weeks earlier in July. summary{display:list-item;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input::-moz-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ [23] Merrifield played in a franchise-record 553 consecutive games for the Royals between June 2018 and July 2022. data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo a{-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g161[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Submit-sc-d7sh2p-6"]{content:"huJzbO,"}/*!sc*/ Merrifield, who made his major league debut with the Royals in 2016, is slated to be a free agent after next year. Thats no fluke, and we know it today. .ggWmAj .sticky-header__share button{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link--message-icon{width:10px;margin-right:5px;}/*!sc*/ However, I cant help but think that the current world had one of the worst outcomes: Merrifield still hasnt gotten to play for a contender, the Royals still lost a bunch of games, the Royals never got a premier prospect in return for Merrifield trade, and the Royals still ended up trading Merrifield but only after comments of his riled up a large portion of the franchise fans. Merrifields skills and talents are easy to spot. .jDETbc{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:40px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ Merrifield graduated from Davie County High School in Mocksville, North Carolina. [18], In 2019, he batted .302/.348/.463 and led the major leagues in games (162), at bats (681), singles (139), triples (10), and line drive percentage (28.2%), while stealing 20 bases and leading the majors in caught stealing (10). I love running, Merrifield said, grinning. .mHQYb .p-search__form svg{width:16px !important;height:16px !important;}/*!sc*/ . AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__nav-item{margin-right:8px;width:18px;height:14px;float:left;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ 2-1 KC Bottom 3 Carlos Santana doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Aaron Judge. .hspSPq .buttonstyle__Label-sc-vlv7w5-0{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ The 33-year-old Merrifield is having the worst season of his career, slashing .240/.290/.352 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases. And with two black holes in the lineup, plus Gordons months-long injury recovery, Merrifield couldnt crack the lineup. The 34-year-old Rios, on a one-year deal, was hitting .221/.248/.262 on July 8, good for a wRC+ of 36. He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina from 2008 to 2010. If he gets off to a good start, hell play a lot. Minda Haas Kuhlmann caught it on camera: Merrifield staring blankly ahead with a towel on his head. data-styled.g101[id="styles__SearchWidgetButton-sc-1vorjk3-1"]{content:"cwEpxl,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}/*!sc*/ (AP) Whit Merrifield said last month he might be willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if it meant playing for a team in contention, even though he had refused to get the . Team: Toronto Blue Jays (majors) Born: January 24, 1989 in Florence, SC us Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 9th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC).. High School: Davie County HS (Mocksville, NC) Hes hit .300 and led the league in hits before, but he is batting .242 with a .645 OPS this season. In 2011, Merrifield played for the Wilmington Blue Rocks where he batted .262 with five home runs and 36 RBIS. .mHQYb input[type='search']::-webkit-search-cancel-button{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ All the skills he would show in the big leagues were there: low strikeout rate, high contact rate, doubles power, and deadly speed. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav{display:none;pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ He led the league in doubles (42) and stolen bases (40) last season, earning a second all-star nod. Maybe you dont empathize with Merrifield. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--logo{height:24px;width:24px;padding:2px 2px 2px 0;margin-right:2px;display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0 16px 0 0;font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}/*!sc*/ But the Royals didnt give Merrifield much rope, playing him for two months before giving another in guyAdalberto Mondesithe second base job even though Mondesi had barely played second base in his professional career. .ebrWqN{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;background-color:#f3f3f3;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ .groqnz .ad-body-container .ad-body-inner-container{margin-bottom:32px;padding:43px 0 16px 0;position:relative;text-align:center;width:343px;}/*!sc*/
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