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yesterday

Whit Merrifield Retires After Nine-Season MLB Career

He cited the birth of his daughter in March 2024 as the deciding factor for stepping away from baseball.

Bryson Stott #5 and Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies pour water and candy on Whit Merrifield #9 after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on May 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sep 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Whit Merrifield (15) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the New York Mets in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Merrifield announced on June 24 that he would retire effective immediately, bringing his nine-season major league career to a close after a final appearance with the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 30, 2024.
  • He finished with a .280 batting average, 94 home runs, 485 RBIs and 1,249 hits, and led the American League in stolen bases three times.
  • A three-time All-Star, he twice led all of MLB in hits with 192 in 2018 and a career-high 206 in 2019.
  • In his retirement announcement he apologized to Philadelphia fans for his struggles in 2024 and said his only baseball regret was never winning a World Series.
  • Originally a ninth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2010, he described Kansas City as his ‘first love’ before later playing for the Blue Jays, Phillies and Braves.