Jackson Merrill’s Remarkable Rise Fuels Padres Success

SAN DIEGO — Just after the Padres made Jackson Merrill the 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft, we talked with the Maryland native about joining an organization that already had Fernando Tatis Jr. and one of the game’s top prospects at the time, C.J. Abrams at the shortstop position he played.

“Right now, I’m just really excited to play,” Merrill said. “If I’m on the left side of the infield, that’s great, but in the end, I just want to be on the field helping the team win.”

A week short of three years later, and now a big league All-Star in center field at only 21 years old, Merrill smiled when he was reminded of that statement.

“I am on the field, no matter where it is, and I couldn’t be happier,” said the June National League Rookie of the Month prior to a recent game at Petco Park. “All I ever wanted to do was to be up here and try to help my team win.”

Merrill’s performance as a rookie is more than helping. After moving to fill a glaring defensive hole on the roster, he’s hitting .288/.322/.452 and fully embracing the Padres’ contact-first, pass-the-baton offensive approach.

While his performance is remarkable, it is surprising more for how quickly is has come, not that it arrived.

Even from the outset, as Merrill roared through the minors to reach the big leagues with fewer than 900 professional plate appearances, his impressive on-field performance was just one component of what stood out.

The Padres quickly saw Merrill’s commitment when he moved to the club’s complex in Peoria so he could train year-round.

“I loved it out here; it was nice and warm. I could get my ground balls in, and the weight room is perfect; I could do anything there,” Merrill told the Severna Park Voice during his first spring training.

By his first spring training, he was already recognized as a quiet leader in the clubhouse and on the field.

That showed up in his full-season debut with Lake Elsinore. Despite missing a substantial part of the season with a wrist injury to his non-throwing hand and then a hamstring pull, he still returned to the lineup in time to lead the Storm to the California League championship and head into last year as the top prospect in the system.

Merrill hit just .177 in Fort Wayne last April as he dealt with illness and the cold weather of northeastern Indiana, but he bounced back with a strong May. He jumped to Double-A San Antonio after a torrid start to July and an appearance in the All-Star Futures Game,

There, his rapid rise picked up even more steam. He posted a .800 OPS for the Missions through July. As club officials began to believe he might be ready to contribute at the big league level, he started logging time in the outfield in August. While he ultimately stayed in the minors as the big league team collapsed, he showed stellar bat-to-ball skills to finish the year with a combined .277/.326/.444 line.

Merrill then spent much of the offseason taking balls in left field to prepare for his opportunity this spring training as he remained the top prospect in the organization.

“Everyone has their path to breaking in, and some players – Jackson included – have shown themselves to be ahead of the learning curve,” said his manager, Mike Shildt.

“He’s a talented player, but he is also really conscientious about what he is doing and how he is doing it. He’s very open to other people’s experiences, which allows him to accelerate his learning curve. I have had a lot of experience in player development and have seen players similar to Jackson.”

That learning curve was put to the test as Merrill, who logged 178 minor league games at shortstop, five in left field, two at second base, and one at first, made his first official appearance in center field while debuting as a 20-year-old in the opening day lineup for the Padres.

“I concentrate on being athletic because when I focus too much on techniques, I stress myself out, and you aren’t going to make those plays,” said Merrill.

“There isn’t any big secret. Just do the outfield drills and put in the work. The outfield is about reps rather than trying to focus on fundamentals. The main thing is to go out there and be athletic.”

Merrill’s rapid rise couldn’t have surprised anyone who followed his high school career. Once an undersized shortstop who planned on attending West Point to become a U.S. Army officer, he drew a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky after a major growth spurt. Within a year, he led his high school to the Maryland state championship game and emerged as a first-round pick.

The now 6-foot-4, 205-pound Merrill is the quintessential plus athlete. He plays a premium defensive position and clearly enjoys himself.

“One of the big differences between the major leagues and the minors is the city gets to know you a little bit,” said Merrill. “Everyone in San Diego has been great to my family and me since I arrived, and I really appreciate it.”

“He does love to play the game,” said Shildt. “I think that is part of it, and some of the guys I’ve seen could do that – and I don’t want to give any names – have been a big part of their success. Players who show up with high baseball IQs and love the game tend to have a lot of success.

“That’s what makes Jackson unique: maturity, physical ability, and emotional ability – not to make situations bigger than they are. That’s special.”

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