This Philadelphia Phillies infielder is contemplating retirement, which would bring an end to his nearly decade-long career in Major League Baseball.
One of the Phillies’ notable free-agent signings last offseason was utility infielder Whit Merrifield. Now, a year later, he is considering stepping away from the game to focus on family.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, who covers the Atlanta Braves, noted that Merrifield was a good addition to Atlanta late last season, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old is leaning toward retirement.
Merrifield’s time with the Phillies didn’t make a significant impact; he appeared in only 53 games, posting a .199/.277/.295/.572 line with three home runs and 11 RBI. He was released by Philadelphia on July 12 and signed with Atlanta shortly thereafter. Merrifield performed better with the Braves, improving his slash line to .248/.348/.336/.684 with one home run and four RBI.
Overall, he finished the season with a .222/.311/.314/.625 line, four home runs, and 15 RBI.
His brief stint in Philadelphia didn’t reflect the quality of his career. Before joining the Phillies, Merrifield played with Toronto in 2023, slashing .272/.318/.382/.700 in 145 games with 11 home runs, 67 RBI, and 26 stolen bases, also earning an All-Star selection.
Merrifield was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the ninth round of the 2010 draft from South Carolina. After nearly six years in the minors, he debuted with the Royals in 2016, playing 81 games. He became a steady, productive presence for Kansas City, especially between 2019 and 2021, when he played in every game and led the Majors in at-bats each season.
If Merrifield does retire, he would end his career with a .280/.328/.413/.741 line, 256 doubles, 29 triples, 94 home runs, and 485 RBI. He was a three-time All-Star and finished 17th in American League MVP voting in 2018. Merrifield also led the Majors in hits in both 2018 and 2019, and in stolen bases three times, with a career-high 40 steals in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are gearing up for the 2025 season, with spring training set to begin next month in Clearwater, Florida. They will look to extend their playoff streak to four consecutive seasons, following their World Series appearance in 2022.
Leave a Reply