San Diego’s Merrill Aims for Glory After Stellar Rookie Season

San Diego, CA — After a remarkable rookie season that saw him excel both offensively and defensively, Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres is looking to build on his achievements as he heads into the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

Merrill, who turned 21 earlier this month, played a pivotal role for the Padres during the 2024 season, finishing with a .826 OPS and 24 home runs. After escaping elimination in the National League Division Series, he expressed his desire to avoid the feeling of disappointment he experienced last postseason.

“I don’t want to feel that feeling again,” Merrill said. “So I was taking in as much as possible, you know? Take in as much as possible, that feeling, so you can avoid it the next time.”

The young outfielder’s journey began in 2023 when he was a little-known shortstop prospect—a position he had never played in the majors. His swift transition to center field impressed the Padres’ front office, including A.J. Preller, the team’s president of baseball operations.

“He went and took it,” Preller said. “For us, we talk about accelerating the process of the gifted, but those guys have to go do it.”

Utilizing his athleticism and instincts, Merrill cemented his spot in the lineup, leading all qualified rookies in hits, RBIs, batting average, and slugging percentage. He also tied for first in home runs and triples, showcasing his success at the plate.

His defensive statistics were equally striking; he ranked seventh in outs above average and third in ultimate zone rating among qualified center fielders. His poise at the plate earned him accolades, as he avoided prolonged slumps and frequently delivered in clutch moments.

“You see 0-for-4 or 0-for-8, and people go down. He didn’t,” said Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriguez. “When you have that, that goes a long way. The guys really like what he brought. They liked his energy. They liked the way he wanted to win.”

Merrill also achieved something rare in his inaugural season. He became one of only three players—joining Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Andruw Jones—who started on Opening Day in center field before turning 21. On March 20, 2024, he made history at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

Despite personal success, Merrill remains focused on team goals. After the Padres lost in the Division Series, he remarked, “My focus the whole year was to win. And we didn’t win the World Series. After we lost the Division Series, Rookie of the Year went out of my mind.”

This offseason, he committed to improving by focusing on his baserunning and strike zone discipline, recognizing the need for balance between aggressiveness and selectivity. “I’m here to break camp with the team,” Merrill stated, indicating his determination to secure a spot on the roster.

With veterans like Jurickson Profar departing and the Padres facing adjustments, Merrill is poised to be a key player as the team seeks to capitalize on its core talent, which includes Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

“Win a World Series, that’s always the next step,” Merrill emphasized. “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing on the field if we’re not winning.”