With a combination of timely hitting and knowing MLB rules that benefitted his team, Whit Merrifield is quickly endearing himself to Toronto Blue Jays fans.
Acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals just before the MLB trade deadline expired on August 2, Whit Merrifield has made an impact in a very short time with the Toronto Blue Jays … and that impact hasn’t just been from his hot start at the plate or what he has done in the field.
Since donning a Blue Jays uniform, Merrifield is 5-for-14 and has logged an RBI and stolen base. However, it’s the veteran leadership and intangibles that has also given Toronto a boost since his arrival.
A perfect example of that came on Sunday in the 10th inning in Minnesota against the American League Central-leading Twins. Merrifield tagged to score on a fly ball and was initially called out at the plate. Take a look at the play below.
However, after review, the call on Merrifield’s slide was reversed after umpires ruled that catcher Gary Sanchez interfered with Merrifield’s ability to score. The reversal led to the ejection of an irate Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and an eventual 3-2 win for the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: Whit Merrifield already a fan favorite
Merrifield, who was inserted into the game in the ninth inning, told reporters after the contest that, knowing the MLB rule book as he did, the way he slid into home was intentional.
Merrifield said he saw Sanchez blocking the plate as he was running from third and decided to slide into him to make it more obvious.
“I was aware of how [Sanchez] sets up at home. And I know what the rule is. It’s just a matter of whether or not it got called.”
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 7, 2022
The quote immediately got reactions from Blue Jays fans, with one tweeting about Merrifield, “He’s a mischievous agent of chaos and I love him,” and another calling him a “baseball savant.”
Whit Merrifield’s trade to the Toronto Blue Jays is already paying dividends as the versatile veteran is proving valuable with his bat, glove, and mind.