Why a slow start hasn’t shaken Kansas City Royals star Whit Merrifield’s confidence
Kansas City Royals infield/outfielder and offensive catalyst Whit Merrifield isn’t one to acquiesce to others’ limitations for him. The chip he has firmly planted on his shoulder has served him well in his career as he’s proved his doubters wrong.
So Merrifield certainly isn’t going to let numbers replace his own evaluation of his performance at the plate. Even if those numbers say through 14 games and 59 at-bats, he’s off to the worst start of his major-league career with a batting average of .136 along with a .164 on-base percentage and a .169 slugging percentage.
“I’ll be just fine, I promise.” Merrifield said.
The two-time All-Star and two-time major-league hits leader isn’t lacking confidence. His natural confidence coupled with what he’s already accomplished in the big leagues affords him the ability to smile and tell reporters he’ll be “just fine” after a day like Sunday when he had one hit and four strikeouts in the Royals’ 5-4 loss to the Mariners in 12 innings.
“It’s easy to look at today because I struck out four times and look at my numbers and go ‘Well, he’s really struggling,’” Merrifield said after Sunday’s game. “Really, just look at this series. I had nine good at-bats out of (15). I had four the first day, three the second day, two today. Even going back to the Cleveland series, I can think of three diving plays, three lineouts, two balls off the pitcher that went right to the shortstop.
“Then, you know, I can do this for the whole year. It’s easy to look at today and go, ‘Oh, he’s struggling.’ Or whatever. I keep reiterating to the coaching staff, I feel really good. It just hasn’t come yet. Fortunately, I’ve got a little bit of a track record at this point.”
That track record includes a career batting average of .288 and having entered this season with 909 hits, the third-most in the majors since his major-league debut on May 18, 2016.
The only Royals players with more hits through the first six seasons of their career with the franchise were Eric Hosmer (940) and Billy Butler (956).
Merrifield’s exploits also include having led the majors in hits in 2018 (192) and 2019 (206). He became the second right-handed hitter to lead the majors in that category in consecutive seasons alongside Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett (1988 and 1989).
Merrifield also became the first player to lead the majors in hits in consecutive seasons since Ichiro Suzuki did so from 2006-10. The only other Royals player to accomplish that feat was Hall of Famer George Brett in 1975 and 1976.
“I’ve got all the confidence in the world in myself,” Merrifield said. “It’s just a matter of doing more to help us win. That’s what’s really frustrating to me, not doing much offensively to help us win right now. I know I can do more. When you’re not getting results and feel good, it’s a little frustrating. It’s a long season. We’ll be just fine.”
Last season, Merrifield’s 70 hits from the leadoff spot tied DJ LeMahieu for the most in the majors. He also tied José Abreu, José Ramírez and Eloy Jiménez for the American League lead in multi-hit games (21) last season.
This season, the only Royals to hit more balls with a 95-mph exit velocity or higher than Merrifield are middle of the order hitters Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier, according to MLB Statcast data.
At this very early stage of the season, Merrifield’s strikeout rate is nearly half of what it was last season (7.3% compared to 14.3%).
Yet he’d gone 1 for 11 to start his most recent series, against the Mariners, before his fifth-inning single on Sunday. His first at-bat on Sunday was a line drive at 100 mph right at the Mariners third baseman for an out.
Merrifield says he’s learned not to get too wrapped up in results alone.
“For me it’s a matter of am I swinging at good pitches, am I on time for the fastball,” Merrifield said. “Outside of today, I haven’t been swinging at bad pitches. I’ve been in the zone. Also today in six at-bats, they went strike one on me. It’s one of those stretches where it feels like I’ll never get in the 2-0, 3-1 count. I’m always working from behind. Today was just one of those days.”
