As the calendar gets closer to Opening Day, Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres appears to gain more confidence.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the rookie has won the starting center field job and will join an elite list in baseball history.
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, he could become only the third player in the last 50 years to start in center field on opening day before the age of 21, joining Ken Griffey Jr. and Andruw Jones.
Nightengale also wrote that it is quite an accomplishment considering Merrill has never played a game at Triple-A, and never a game in center field in his entire life, not even in Little League.
Morosi joined MLB Network on Monday morning and said that Merrill left camp in Arizona wearing No. 70 and took the field for his first exhibition game in South Korea wearing No. 3. The sudden number change triggered him to think that something much bigger was happening for the young outfielder.
“I don’t really think anything different of it,” he said. “They just kind of gave me that number. I didn’t really complain about it. I didn’t really ask for a smaller number or anything. It’s just what they gave me.”
Merrill had two of the team’s four hits against the Korean National Team on Sunday night. His first hit was in the fourth inning when he lined an outside breaking pitch down the left field line for a single and the second hit was in the seventh inning which was lined up the middle for another single.
His start in Seoul has been reminiscent of his performance all spring. He has the ability to use the entire field and doesn’t try to do much. He attacked every pitch with confidence and was impressive with adjusting the outfield.
“We don’t want to take that for granted,” manager Mike Shildt said. “We’re not gonna minimize anybody who makes adjustments in a game that is adjustment based. We talk about being better as the game goes, and he did a nice job. Just stick with what the game gives you. … Just did a nice job, didn’t try to do too much.”
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For a player in high school three years ago, he isn’t letting the moments get too big for him. He remains grounded while also realizing the opportunity in front of him.
“It was electric,” Merrill said of the exhibition in front of 12,497 fans in the enclosed ballpark. “That was probably the most fun I’ve had playing baseball in a while. That was pretty awesome.”
His major league debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers will differ from the typical rookie debut. Instead of his family members, close friends, and acquaintances, it will only be his girlfriend who made the trip overseas.
He said his parents would see him in due time.
“I don’t really think anything of it,” Merrill said. “I think they’ll come out to San Diego if I do make the team, and they’ll come see me Opening Day in San Diego.”
Merrill and the Padres open the 2024 MLB season on Wednesday at 6:05 a.m. ET on ESPN.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.