ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield is speaking out against control-challenged pitchers hitting batters with pitches in Major League Baseball.
The experienced infielder was hit in the back of his head by Colorado Rockies rookie Jeff Criswell with a fastball traveling at 94.5 mph during the Braves’ 3-0 win on Tuesday. Merrifield believes that MLB needs to take action before a serious injury occurs.
As a player rep on the MLB Competition Committee, Merrifield expressed his frustration with the current situation, stating, “Where the game’s at right now, it’s just ridiculous.”
After being attended to on the field, Merrifield shouted at Criswell and continued to voice his concerns as he left the game to undergo a CT scan to rule out internal injuries.
He highlighted recent incidents where Braves players, including Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Riley, were hit by fastballs in consecutive games, leading to injuries that required them to miss significant time.
Merrifield emphasized the lack of consequences for pitchers and the dangerous trend of pitchers throwing as hard as they can without regard for control. He called for immediate action to address the issue before more players are seriously hurt.
As a member of the Rules Committee, Merrifield plans to push for discussions on how to prevent similar incidents in the future. He believes that changes need to be made to ensure the safety of all players on the field.
Despite narrowly avoiding a serious injury himself, Merrifield remains committed to advocating for a safer playing environment in Major League Baseball.
(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
