Whit Merrifield

Royals recall Merrifield from Omaha

Published Apr. 18, 2017 4:27 p.m. ET

A bit of a surprise when he failed to make the Royals' season-opening roster, Whit Merrifield is back with the club.

The Royals recalled the jack-of-all-trades from Triple-A Omaha, taking the roster spot vacated when Kansas City optioned reliever Jakob Junis back to Omaha on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/Royals/status/854410376343171074

Merrifield spent much of last season with Kansas City, batting .283 in 311 at-bats over 81 games, so some eyebrows were raised when he started the season in Omaha while Terrance Gore made the big-league roster.

With the starting rotation finding its groove, the need for an extra arm in the bullpen has lessened, prompting the move with Junis. (Gore had previously been assigned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.) And though the club has been winning lately, it still isn't scoring a lot of runs.

Merrifield figures to help on that front. In nine games with Omaha he hit .412 with three homers and nine RBIs in 34 at-bats.

Merrifield, 28, is starting in right field and batting eighth Tuesday night against the Giants.

https://twitter.com/FSKansasCity/status/854430520503132160

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Whit Merrifield

Kansas City Royals

Major League Baseball