KC Royals: Top 5 moments from July 2019

It should come as a surprise that Whit Merrifield’s longest hitting streak peaked at only 15 games in 2019.

Whit Merrifield owns 20, and 19-game hitting streaks in previous seasons, so this was below his standards. However, his numbers during the streak were definitely on-brand in July.

Merrifield hit for .410 BA, .486 OBP, .590 SLG, and 1.076 OPS during his 15-game hitting streak that started on Jun. 29 and ended Jul. 17. Seven of those games were multi-hit games, so he wasn’t cheating us either – he was on an absolute tear.

He also made his first MLB All-Star appearance, replacing eventual 2019 AL MVP Mike Trout in center field, and was the only player representing the Royals during the Midsummer Classic. He went 0-for-2 at the plate, as he flew out to left field against Atlanta Brave Mike Soroka, and struck out swinging against Miami Marlin Sandy Alcantara.

"From Lynn Worthy, Kansas City Star: “It’s the All-Star Game. It doesn’t mean anything. We’re not playing for home field anymore. Enjoy it. Try to soak in the moments. Obviously, it’s not you would do normally. Special occasion. Special event. I did what I could to take advantage.” – Whit Merrifield."

The American League took the victory by a 4-3 score, as New York Yankee Aroldis Chapman punched out the side (all swinging) and granted the eventual AL Champions Houston Astros with home-field advantage in the World Series, where they eventually failed to win a single game.

Luckily for Merrifield, his O-fer performance at the 2019 All-Star Game didn’t cost him the hitting streak, as he was able to expand that for a few more days through Jul. 17. Fittingly, Merrifield hit an inside-the-park-home-run two games before he snapped the streak.