Royals Report: 5 Things About Squeaker Over White Sox

2) Whit Merrifield Brings Both Speed And Versatility

One advantage of Whit Merrifield instead of Christian Colon as the utility infielder is that Merrifield brings more speed and versatility to the bench. Merrifield had 16 stolen bases in about six weeks in Omaha with only one caught stealing. Add Merrifield’s speed to his ability to play every position except catcher, and he allows Ned Yost to pinch run in almost any situation without compromising the defense.

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That’s perfect for a team that is going with a short bench in favor of an extra reliever. With KC Royals starters not getting deep into games, Yost needs all the bullpen help he can get.

Of course, whether Merrifield sticks will depend on his bat. If he can show he’s merely serviceable with the lumber, Merrifield will enjoy a long major league career despite getting a late start at age 27. So far, he’s notched two hits in seven at bats (both singles), but it’s still too early to tell if his bat can play over the long-term.

If Merrifield can show adequate production at the plate, he’ll get a lot of playing time on a team whose position players are creeping up in age. Left fielder Alex Gordon is 32, center fielder Lorenzo Cain is 30, second baseman Omar Infante is 34 and simply isn’t hitting, and Alcides Escobar is 29 and could use more breaks.

One advantage that Whit Merrifield has over Christian Colon is that the organization seems to believe he is a better shortstop. That might allow Yost to give Esky more days off rather than ask him to play more than 155 games per season like he did every year from 2011 through 2014.

In 2015, Escobar played a mere 148 games, but he missed a week when Brett Lawrie spiked him in a now infamous incident.

In the end, Merrifield can sub for more players and help keep the roster sharper than Christian Colon.

Next: Danny Duffy