Could 2021 be Whit Merrifield's best season yet?
Whit Merrifield has been a big fantasy name for years now, but NBC Sports EDGE's Drew Silva thinks 2021 could be his best season yet for the Royals and fantasy managers.
Video Transcript
DREW SILVA: Whit Merrifield has been a popular fantasy name for years now. He's no secret. But it's looking like 2021 might bring better results than ever from the Royals' dynamic leadoff man. That lineup in Kansas City is quietly deep, and Merrifield has the power and speed profile to serve as the perfect table setter for it. He hit three home runs over the Royals' first four games this season, becoming the first player in franchise history to accomplish that feat. And he has averaged 35 stolen bases for every 162 games played since the beginning of 2017.
There will be some natural regression from Merrifield's early power pace, but the steals give them a nice floor of fantasy value in an era of baseball where teams are getting less and less aggressive on the basepaths. And he should sit at or near the top of the runs scored leaderboard throughout the year, given the improved supporting cast behind him. For years now, people have asked why don't the Royals just trade Whit Merrifield? We're seeing now that they might have actually had a pretty good plan.
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