Former Kansas City Royals utilityman Whit Merrifield has announced his retirement after nine seasons in the majors.

Merrifield made this announcement Tuesday, June 24 on social media, saying that the birth of his daughter last year ultimately influenced his decision to hang up his cleats. The Royals drafted Merrifield in 2010, fresh off leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to their first-ever national title at the College World Series. Merrifield made his major league debut in 2016 and led the MLB in hits in 2018 and 2019. Merrifield would be traded to Toronto in 2022 and then sign a free-agent deal with Philadelphia two years later. He last played for Atlanta at the end of the 2024 season.