Former Blue Jays all-star retires after twice leading MLB in hits over his nine seasons
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'At this point in my life, I'd much rather chase around a toddler than chase sliders,' wrote Merrifield, who had 192 hits for the Royals in 2018 and led the majors again a year later with 206.
Merrifield played his last game with the Braves on Sept. 30, 2024, when they had to play a Monday doubleheader against the New York Mets to settle the National League wild-card race. Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene had rained out both games in Atlanta a week earlier.
The Mets clinched a wild card with a victory in Game 1, which Merrifield played. He sat for the second game, which the Braves won to move on to the postseason as well.
Merrifield was a ninth-round pick by Kansas City in the 2010 amateur draft and made his debut with the Royals six years later, the season after the club won its first World Series in 30 years.
Merrifield played in every game from 2019-21, which included the 2020 season shortened to 60 games by the pandemic.
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