Whit Merrifield, a prominent baseball player, announces his retirement after a successful nine-season career in Major League Baseball. Merrifield, recognized for leading MLB in hits on two occasions and being selected for the All-Star Game three times, made the decision at 36 years old. The baseball player shared the news through his social media, mentioning that the birth of his daughter last year influenced his determination.
Merrifield, a versatile player who began his career in Kansas City, became a free agent after finishing last season with Atlanta. He did not participate in the 2025 season.At this point in my life, I’d rather chase a small child than chase breaking pitches.
Whit MerrifieldIn 2018, Merrifield got 192 hits with the Royals, and the following year he again led the majors with 206. His last game was on September 30, 2024 with the Braves, in a double game against the New York Mets, to define the race for the National League wild card. Merrifield was selected in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft by Kansas City, debuting with the Royals six years later, after the team’s victory in the World Series. He played in all the matches between 2019 and 2021, including the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic. Although the Royals didn’t make the playoffs in any of Merrifield’s six full seasons, he was traded to Toronto in 2022, where he participated in two postseasons, although without being a regular starter. Merrifield led the majors in stolen bases three times, including a personal record of 45 in 2018. In his career, he batted .280, with 94 home runs, 485 RBIs, 29 triples, and 218 stolen bases in 1,147 games. His last All-Star appearance was in 2023 with Toronto, and he signed as a free agent with Philadelphia in the following offseason. The Phillies released him last July, and the South Carolina player signed with the Braves.
