Whit Merrifield made his Major League debut on May 18 in the second game of a split doubleheader vs. Boston, and recorded his first career hit off David Price.
Merrifield went on to record at least one hit in each of his first 11 career starts, setting a new Royals franchise record.
He also recorded a hit in 30 of his first 35 career games overall, placing him in elite company. Since 2000, only five others have recorded a hit in exactly 30 of their first 35 career games, including: Albert Pujols, Yasiel Puig, Austin Jackson, Shea Hillenbrand and Rocco Baldelli.