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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

The Whit Merrifield Major League Baseball story is remarkable in so many ways that we’ve lost count.
The minor leagues were a grind on a hamster wheel, which is to say he spent many years going seemingly nowhere. His patience, his refuse-to-give-up spirit were truly inspiring. He felt sure he was going to get called up to the big leagues in 2014. Didn’t happen. He felt sure he was going to get called up in 2015. Didn’t happen.
“Heartbreaking” wasn’t a big enough word.
But the little engine that could from Davie County kept grinding. After spending six-plus years in the minors, he finally got the call on May 18, 2016. After playing 725 games in the minors, Merrifield was finally a Kansas City Royal.
He got off to a roaring start, made three All-Star teams, produced a nine-year MLB career and one day could end up in the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. After playing for the Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in his final year in 2024, Merrifield, 36, announced his retirement on June 24.
“You all should know that I decided a while back to retire,” he wrote. “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. 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 I could no longer give that effort. At this point in life, I’d much rather chase around a toddler than chase sliders.
“Since I’ve now 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. 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. It was a long journey and bumpy road filled with lessons, friendships and memories. I won’t miss playing, but I will dearly miss the time spent in the locker room, show flights, late nights in hotel rooms and (my favorite part) the constant back-and-forth banter. I’ll forget most of the hits, catches and steals, but the relationships and stories that were made throughout my career will stay with me forever.
“I was so privileged and blessed to have played in the cities I played in. KC, you became a second home to my family and I. Nothing compares to a first love. Toronto, playing for an entire country was an honor I’ll never forget. Philly, I liked 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 for my childhood team. My only baseball regret was never being able to help bring a world championship to any one of the cities I played for.
“I loved all the moments. All the highs and even all the lows. I’m grateful for the way this game molded me. I can’t wait to tell my story to my daughter one day. What a ride. Thanks for everything.”
After graduating from Davie in 2007, Merrifield starred at South Carolina for three years and left Columbia, S.C., in storybook fashion, his walk-off hit giving the Gamecocks the 2010 national championship.
He was selected in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. His journey to the major leagues was no red-carpet path. He hung in there until he made his MLB debut at age 27. With enormous heart and character and an off-the-charts baseball IQ, he was good enough to spend nine years in the majors.
It was thrilling for Davie County fans to watch.
Merrifield was a two-time All-Star for Kansas City (2019, 2021) and made it for the third time with Toronto in 2023. He played in every game from 2019-21. He earned MVP votes in 2018. Three times he led the American League in steals. Twice he led the American League in hits. One year he led the AL in doubles; another year he led the AL in triples.
“I thought he was always one of the more, if not the most, under-appreciated players in baseball for a good stretch of years,” Kevin Kiermaier said in 2023 when the two were teammates in Toronto.
“He finds little things within base-running and stealing,” Blue Jays teammate Daulton Varsho said. “He sees them and I’m like ‘how do you see that?’ But he does a really good job, and there’s a reason he’s been elite at it his whole career.”
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Merrifield led the majors in games played in 2019, 2020 and 2021; at-bats in 2019, 2020 and 2021; hits in 2018 and 2019; doubles in 2021; triples in 2019; stolen bases in 2017, 2018 and 2021; and sac flies in 2021.
His ranks in Royals history: seventh in steals (174), 11th in doubles (215), 14th in runs (503), 14th in hits (1,001), 17th in position player rWAR (16.8) and 19th in games played (863).
Merrifield’s career line across 1,147 games: .280/.328/.413, 94 homers, 485 RBIs, 256 doubles, 29 triples, 1,249 hits, 218 steals.
“I think he’s a great example of guys that persevere,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “He spent so many years in the minor leagues. There were opportunities to potentially bring him up that we felt like we had, you know, other guys that were more ready for the major leagues. “But once he got up here, he grabbed hold of that opportunity that he got, and he ran with it. Several All-Star Games, 200 hits in a season, the stolen bases, leading the league in stolen bases. It’s a great testament to how difficult this game can be, not only physically but mentally, and how you’ve got to grind things out. And Whit’s a grinder. He’s a competitor, and he can look back and know that he got every ounce of his ability out of himself and had a very, very nice career.”
“He was an exceptional base stealer with a gift for a guy that wasn’t the fastest guy in the field,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He had great instincts. I picture him – he was a second baseman by trade, but when he would play the outfield he always seemed to be in the right spot, and he would always put together a quality at-bat against you.”