Latest news with #WhitMerrifield
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Whit Merrifield officially retires from MLB after nine seasons
The post Whit Merrifield officially retires from MLB after nine seasons appeared first on ClutchPoints. Whit Merrifield spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 2016 to 2024. After the Kansas City Royals gave the outfielder a chance, Merrifield took it and never looked back. However, the Philadelphia Phillies released Merrifield in 2024 and he was never able to recover. Advertisement In a heartfelt announcement made by Warner Sports Management, his agency, the former All-Star officially announced his retirement. Merrifield finished last season with the Atlanta Braves, but has been a free agent since the offseason began. With the 2025 MLB season ready to move into its third full month, the 35-year-old remained unsigned. His retirement comes after last season showed that he has lost a step. Merrifield's message to fans expressed his appreciation for them. He explained that the birth of his first child was the main factor in his decision, but he will miss playing professional baseball. '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,' Merrifield said. 'I was never talented enough to just show up and play. Baseball required my full focus and energy for me to compete at the level I wanted to, and I realized that I can no longer give that effort. At this point in life, I'd much rather chase around a toddler than chase sliders.' Advertisement Merrifield leaves a complex legacy in each location he played in. He thanked the Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves for adding him to their rosters. However, he apologized to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he underperformed early last season. 'KC, you became a second home to my family and I,' Merrifield said. 'Nothing compares to a first love. Toronto, playing for an entire country was an honor I'll never forget. Philly, I like you way more than you liked me. Sorry I stunk for you. And Atlanta, it was the joy of a lifetime to play and end my career with my childhood team.' Merrifield reflected on his career, saying his only regret was never winning a championship. He was an All-Star twice in Kansas City and once in Toronto, but he never made it to the world series. Later in his career, Merrifield became a valuable veteran, offering his thoughts on what was happening in the baseball world, using his experience to help young players. MLB history will remember Merrifield as one of the best base runners of his era. However, Royals and Blue Jays fans will look back fondly on his tenure with their team. Related: Phillies' Ranger Suarez makes insane grab vs. Astros Related: Mets fans react as Frankie Montas silences doubters, shuts down Braves in season debut
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Retiring Whit Merrifield drops hilarious take on Phillies tenure
The post Retiring Whit Merrifield drops hilarious take on Phillies tenure appeared first on ClutchPoints. Three-time All-Star Whit Merrifield announced his retirement on Tuesday, and on his way out the door, he took time to thank Philadelphia Phillies fans in the most hilarious way possible. Advertisement Merrifield played for the Phillies in 2024, hitting just .199 with a .572 OPS before the team released him and he caught on with the Atlanta Braves. 'Philly, I liked you way more than you liked me,' he wrote in his goodbye post on Instagram. 'Sorry I stunk for you.' Merrifield was slightly better for Atlanta, where he hit .248 with a pedestrian .648 OPS. He became a free agent at the end of last season and did not sign with a team over the winter. 'Since I've not had some time away from the game, I've had a chance to reflect on my individual career for the first time in my life,' Merrifield wrote. 'I'm proud of myself. The toughness I developed and the things I was able to accomplish, nobody outside of my camp thought possible. I spent a lot of energy proving people wrong but my real joy came from proving my small circle of believers right.' Ex Phillies OF Whit Merrifield made his name with the Royals Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images While Merrifield's time in the National League East didn't go so well, he was one of the best hitters in the American League from 2017 to 2021. He came up with the Kansas City Royals and led the AL in hits in 2018 and 2019. He also led the league in stolen bases in 2017, 2018 and 2021. Advertisement Two of Merrifield's three All-Star nods came as a member of the Royals and he finished his time in the City of Fountains seventh in franchise history in steals (174) with a .286 average in that time. The Royals then traded Merrifield to the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 2022 season where he was a member of two Blue Jays playoff teams. 'I was so privileged and blessed to have played in the cities I played in,' Merrifield wrote. 'KC, you became a second home to my family and I. Toronto, playing for an entire country was an honour I'll never forget.' Related: Phillies' Ranger Suarez makes insane grab vs. Astros Related: Mets loss to Phillies ends ridiculous 28-game Francisco Lindor streak
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Whit Merrifield Retires From MLB and Jokes With Phillies Fans, 'Sorry I Stunk For You'
Whit Merrifield Retires From MLB and Jokes With Phillies Fans, 'Sorry I Stunk For You' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Tuesday, June 24th, a former Philadelphia Phillies player announced their retirement. While they didn't have the greatest career in Philadelphia, they still contributed to the 2024 season. Advertisement In an announcement from Warner Sports Management on Twitter/X, Whit Merrifield officially announced he was retiring from baseball. Merrifield signed for $8 million in 2024 with the Phillies and played just 53 games. In his announcement that he's retiring, Merrifield sent a message to the Phillies and their fans. "Philly," Merrifield wrote, "I liked you way more than you liked me. Sorry I stunk for you." Based on Merrifield's statistics with the Phillies, his claim that he "stunk" with the Phillies isn't wrong. He hit just .199 in 174 at-bats, scored 21 runs in 53 games, while being designated for assignment partway through the year. Advertisement He also had five doubles, two triples, one home run, and four RBIs to go with six stolen bases, 20 walks, and 33 strikeouts in his Phillies career. Across his various stints around the league, his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS were all the lows of his career when he was in Philadelphia. Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC LeClaire-Imagn Images But, in his nine-year MLB career, Merrifield put together a strong resume despite entering the league at 27 years old. He was an All-Star three times and led the league in hits twice in 2018 and 2019. He also led the league in triples in 2019 and doubles in 2021. Merrifield stole 218 bases in his career, hit .280, and finished with 1,249 hits across 1,147 games. It was an impressive career for Merrifield, one that most MLB players can't match. In his prime, he was one of the league's best hitters. But, after struggling in recent years, he decided to retire. Advertisement His lasting impression on the Phillies wasn't a good one, and he admits it himself. But Merrifield put together a great career and made a positive impact wherever he went, including in Philadelphia, as he finished his tenure with 0.1 WAR. Related: Phillies Trade Idea Lands 0.61 ERA All-Star Closer for Beloved Outfielder Related: Phillies Trade Idea Sends Defensive Wizard to White Sox for $50 Million Slugger This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Former Blue Jays all-star retires after twice leading MLB in hits over his nine seasons
Whit Merrifield is retiring after a nine-season career that included twice leading the MLB in hits and three trips to the All-Star Game. Article content The 36-year-old posted on social media that the birth of his daughter last year played a role in the decision. Merrifield, a utilityman whose career began with Kansas City, was granted free agency after finishing last season with Atlanta. He didn't play in 2025. Article content Article content Article content '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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content Article content 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. Article content Merrifield played in every game from 2019-21, which included the 2020 season shortened to 60 games by the pandemic. Article content The Royals didn't make the playoffs in any of Merrifield's six full seasons, and he was traded to Toronto in 2022. He went to the postseason twice with the Blue Jays, but wasn't a regular in the lineup. Article content Merrifield led the majors in stolen bases three times, including a career-high 45 in 2018. He hit .280 with 94 homers, 485 RBIs, 29 triples and 218 steals in 1,147 games. Article content The last All-Star trip for Merrifield came in 2023 with Toronto, and he signed as a free agent with Philadelphia that next offseason. The Phillies released Merrifield last July, and the South Carolina native signed with the Braves. Article content
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Former Blue Jays all-star retires after twice leading MLB in hits over his nine seasons
Published Jun 25, 2025 • 2 minute read Whit Merrifield of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates an RBI double during a game in 2023. Getty Images Whit Merrifield is retiring after a nine-season career that included twice leading the MLB in hits and three trips to the All-Star Game. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The 36-year-old posted on social media that the birth of his daughter last year played a role in the decision. Merrifield, a utilityman whose career began with Kansas City, was granted free agency after finishing last season with Atlanta. He didn't play in 2025. '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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. Read More The Royals didn't make the playoffs in any of Merrifield's six full seasons, and he was traded to Toronto in 2022. He went to the postseason twice with the Blue Jays, but wasn't a regular in the lineup. Merrifield led the majors in stolen bases three times, including a career-high 45 in 2018. He hit .280 with 94 homers, 485 RBIs, 29 triples and 218 steals in 1,147 games. The last All-Star trip for Merrifield came in 2023 with Toronto, and he signed as a free agent with Philadelphia that next offseason. The Phillies released Merrifield last July, and the South Carolina native signed with the Braves. Toronto & GTA NHL Toronto Maple Leafs MLB Toronto & GTA
