DETROIT -- When Statcast™'s speed ratings hit Twitter on Tuesday, Royals players took notice.
One who noticed the rankings was Whit Merrifield, who ranked the third fastest second baseman in baseball, based on Statcast™'s speed metric, defined as "feet per second in a player's fastest one-second window" on the bases.
• MLB's fastest baserunners by position
Merrfield's speed metric (28.6) ranked behind the Marlins' Dee Gordon (29.3) and the White Sox' Alen Hanson (28.7).
"It does feel pretty good," Merrifield said. "I feel like sometimes my speed sometimes gets overlooked a little. It's nice to have some validation. I work pretty hard on my speed."
What Merrifield liked the most was that he ranked ahead of Michael Trout (28.4).
"Let that sink in," Merrifield said, smiling.
Eric Hosmer ranked as baseball's second-fastest first baseman at 27.5, behind former Royals prospect William Myers (28.5), now with the Padres.
"That doesn't surprise me," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "[Hosmer] is a good baserunner. Really good."
Merrifield added, "Oh, yeah, he moves pretty good."
Lorenzo Cain was sixth among center fielders at 29.2, and was the fastest Royal.