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Jackson Merrill

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Jackson Merrill
Merrill with the San Diego Padres in 2024
San Diego Padres – No. 3
Center fielder
Born: (2003-04-19) April 19, 2003 (age 21)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 20, 2024, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.292
Home runs24
Runs batted in90
Stolen bases16
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jackson Peter Merrill (born April 19, 2003) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Padres and made his MLB debut in 2024. He was selected for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Early life and amateur career

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Merrill grew up in Severna Park, Maryland, and attended Severna Park High School.[1] Growing up, Merrill was a fan of the Boston Red Sox.[2] He initially committed to play college baseball for the Army Black Knights during his junior year. Merrill's junior season was canceled due to COVID-19, after which he focused on physical training and gained over 30 pounds of muscle. He later changed his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats in the fall of his senior year.[3] As a high school senior, he batted .500 with 13 home runs and 39 runs batted in (RBIs) and was named the Maryland Player of the Year by the Capital Gazette.[4]

Professional career

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The San Diego Padres selected Merrill in the first round, with the 27th overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He signed with San Diego for a $1.8 million signing bonus.[6][7]

Merrill was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Padres to start his professional career.[8] Over 31 games and 107 at-bats, Merrill slashed .280/.339/.383 with seven doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs, 10 walks, and 27 strikeouts.[9]

Merrill opened the 2022 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Single-A California League.[10] In 45 games, he hit .325/.387/.482 with five home runs, 34 RBI, and eight stolen bases.

Merrill split the 2023 season between the High–A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Double–A San Antonio Missions, playing in 114 total games and batting .277/.326/.444 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.[11]

On March 19, 2024, the Padres selected Merrill's contract and added him to their Opening Day roster.[12] Merrill made his major league debut the following day against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Seoul Series.[13] On July 7, 2024, he was named as a reserve player in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, becoming the first rookie in Padres history to ever make the All-Star Game.[14]

On October 6, 2024, in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Merrill hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to extend the Padres' lead to 6–1, which marked his first postseason home run in his career.[15]

References

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[16]

  1. ^ Peters, James (July 10, 2021). "Severna Park standout Jackson Merrill earns Capital Gazette baseball Player of Year nod". Capital Gazette. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Merrill's 3-run homer, Higashioka's 2-run shot lead Padres to 9-2 win over Red Sox". AP News. June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Sanders, Jeff (July 11, 2021). "Padres' focus remains on preps as team lands shortstop with 27th overall pick". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Cassavell, AJ (July 12, 2021). "Never too many: Padres draft shortstop". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Padres' Jackson Merrill: Lands with Friars". CBSSports.com. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Wagner, Bill (July 19, 2021). "Former Severna Park shortstop Jackson Merrill signs with San Diego Padres for $1.8 million after being taken with No. 27 pick in MLB draft". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  7. ^ Cassevell, AJ (July 19, 2021). "Padres agree with top pick Merrill". MLB.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Sanders, Jeff (July 27, 2021). "Minors: Gore tumbles in Baseball America top-100; Merrill makes pro debut". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Answers to your Orioles questions, Part 2". October 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "James Wood, Jackson Merrill Star in California League Opener". April 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jackson Merrill makes Padres' Opening Day roster: No. 12 prospect set for MLB debut as outfielder". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Jackson Merrill, Graham Pauley, Jeremiah Estrada, Stephen Kolek make Padres' roster in Seoul". sandiegouniontribune.com. March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Ton-Hyung, Kim (March 20, 2024). "20-year-old outfielder Jackson Merrill makes debut for Padres in opener vs. Dodgers". apnews.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Nightengale, Bob (July 7, 2024). "MLB All-Star Game rosters: AL, NL reserves, pitchers revealed". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  15. ^ MLB [@MLB] (October 6, 2024). "FIRST CAREER #POSTSEASON HOME RUN FOR JACKSON MERRILL! #NLDS" (Tweet). Retrieved October 6, 2024 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Jackson Merrill's Double Boosts Padres Over Twins". Innews247. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024. Jackson Merrill's double gave the Padres a crucial advantage over the Minnesota Twins in a key season moment.
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