REPORT: Former Gamecock Standout Whit Merrifield Signs One-Year Deal With Philadelphia Phillies

South Carolina baseball great Whit Merrifield has landed on his feet in the majors with one of more talented teams in baseball, per an ESPN baseball insider.

In terms of former South Carolina athletes who are currently playing at the professional level in their respective sport, former Gamecock outfielder and College World Series Champion Whit Merrifield has been a pillar of stability. Having played in the Majors since 2016, Merrifield has put together a respectable career, having been named an all-star three times and led the American League is stolen bases on in three different seasons.

Whit Merrifield sliding into home plate versus the Tampa Bay Rays (23rd Sept., 2023) / Nathan Ray Seebeck | USA Today Network

Now 35, Whit is nearing the final chapters of his baseball career and spent the majority of this offseason without a team, until Friday afternoon, when it was reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday afternoon that Merrifield had signed a one-year, eight million dollar deal with last year's runner-ups in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies. In 592 plate appearances last season, the former Gamecock slashed .272/.318/.382 while 11 home runs and batting in 67 runs for the Toronto Blue Jays. 2024 will be Merrifield's ninth season in the Majors and his first in the National League.

You Might Also Like:

• A Breakdown Of The Outfield For South Carolina's Baseball Team
• A Breakdown Of The Infield For South Carolina's Baseball Team
• ANALYSIS: A Look At South Carolina's 2024 Baseball Schedule

Join the community:

• Follow Andrew Lyon on Twitter: @ALyon_SC
• Follow Joseph Griffin on Twitter: @JosephGriffinJG
• Follow Locked On Gamecocks on Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @GamecocksDigest & follow us on Twitter at @GamecocksDigest.