KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Former Kansas City Royals All-Star Whit Merrifield has officially announced his retirement following nine seasons in Major League Baseball.
Merrifield made his MLB debut as a 27-year-old with the Royals in 2016. He played 863 games with the Royals and left the team in 2022 when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
In a statement shared through his agents at Warner Sports Management, the 36-year-old said the decision to walk away from baseball was easy.
“Hey guys, You all should know that I decided a while back to retire,” said Merrifield, who has not played in MLB this season. “When it came down to it, it was an easy decision. Many factors played a role in my decision, but the main one was a 6 pound, 6 ounce gift from God my wife and I were blessed with in March of 2024… At this point in life, I’d much rather chase around a toddler than chase sliders.”
Merrifield was an All-Star for the Royals in 2019 and 2021, playing all 162 games for Kansas City both years. In 2019, Merrifield’s 206 hits are seventh-most in a season in franchise history. He started that season by continuing a hitting streak that dated back to the end of 2018, and surpassed Royals Hall-of-Famer George Brett to set the franchise record of 31 straight games with a hit.
In 1,147 career games, Merrifield totaled 1,249 hits, 94 home runs, and a career .280 batting average. He scored 632 runs, drove in 485 RBI and stole 218 bases over his career.
The South Carolina native was also an All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2023. He played in 53 games with the Philadelphia Phillies and 42 games with the Atlanta Braves during the 2024 season.
Kansas City Royals’ Whit Merrifield prepares to bat during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)(WIBW)
“I was so privileged and blessed to have played in the cities I played in,” Merrifield said in his retirement announcement. “KC, you became a second home to my family and I. Nothing compares to a first love… My only baseball regret was never being able to help bring a world championship to any one of the cities I played for.”
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