Whit Merrifield retires and apologizes to Philadelphia fans for poor performance
- Whit Merrifield announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after a challenging season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
- He expressed regret for his poor performance with the team and emphasized his desire to focus on family life after the birth of his daughter.
- Merrifield's retirement reflects a shift in priorities away from baseball towards spending time with his family.
In June 2025, Whit Merrifield, a former professional baseball player, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball in a heartfelt social media post. Merrifield, who had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, expressed an apology to the team's fans for his lackluster performance during his time with the team. Playing 53 games, he managed to hit only .199, marking a significant decline from his typical statistics throughout his career. Merrifield attributed his decision to retire primarily to the arrival of his daughter in March 2024, stating that he preferred spending time with his family over pursuing a baseball career. A native of Florence, South Carolina, Merrifield was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2010 and made his MLB debut in 2016, eventually becoming a three-time All-Star. His career included notable achievements, such as leading the major leagues in hits and steals during several seasons. After his release from the Phillies, Merrifield joined the Atlanta Braves, the team he had long supported as a child. In his retirement letter, he reflected on the joy of his baseball journey and looked forward to sharing these experiences with his daughter in the future. He noted that while he cherished his time in the game, he regretted not winning a World Series title during his career.