Jackson Merrill has been a powerhouse for the Padres. In his last 18 games, the 21-year-old rookie outfielder has homered nine times while slashing a robust .343/.371/.791 with a 228 wRC+. His season numbers aren’t exactly stellar — Barry Bonds’ second comeback he’s not — but they’re good enough to keep him firmly in contention for the NL Rookie of the Year award in center field. The hot youngster from San Diego has a dozen dingers to go with a 125 wRC+ and a .291/.325/.459 slash line. In addition, his 2.5 WAR is tied for the top (along with Milwaukee’s Joey Ortiz) among first-year players in the majors.
For several years now, one of Merrill’s goals — and expectations — has been to get more power than most people thought he would get when he was drafted 27th in 2021. When I spoke with him on Sunday Notes during the 2022 Arizona Fall League. during the season, the Baltimore native told me he could “definitely drive the ball,” adding that he was looking to get stronger and generate more pop going forward. When the Padres visited Fenway Park last weekend, I asked Merrill how he felt he had improved in that area.
“It’s not about trying to force more power, it’s just about getting used to hitting and letting it happen,” said Merrill, who went on to strike out 15 total bases for the Red Sox in three games. “When I got here, I was still getting used to everything, and finding my time and choosing my pitch well. Power comes naturally when you get your swing fun and put more barrel on the ball. “
Merrill showed signs of what’s to come last season. His left-handed hitting produced 44 more hits, including 15 home runs, between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio. What is remarkable about that last sentence was the height of the two levels. When he broke camp with San Diego in March — the Padres played the Los Angeles Dodgers in South Korea to start the season — it was sans Triple-A experience. What makes his transition even more impressive is that Merrill — the youngest player on the major league roster outside of Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio — was a shortstop before this year, and now plays exclusively in center field.
His early success against big-league hitters comes with a swing that’s “almost always the same.” Merrill has used his timing method before, but when push comes to shove he usually reverts to what has traditionally worked best. He did that earlier in the season.
“I had a toe tap last year, and earlier this year,” Merrill explained. “I was trying to get more time, more feeling in my legs, but now that I have that feeling, I’m going back to just one smooth, short, forward. I probably won’t go back to the tap. I think the faucet is the norm when it comes to being late. I think I was too late for it, because some pitchers are fast at the plate and hard to finish. Moving once is easy.”
His moving body is stronger than when other examiners questioned his strength. Still listed at 195 pounds by most publications, Merrill actually now tips the scales at 208, a weight he feels is currently a good fit for his 6-foot-3 frame. And while moving forward is not the goal, he expects it to happen. As Merrill put it, “Being 21 years old, I’m going to naturally gain weight over the next five years. Hopefully I’ll be a little stronger like I did.”
Which brings us to how he helps him hit baseballs. Merrill is looking to drive pitches to all fields, not wanting to sell out so he “covers one side.” He wants, in baseball parlance, to hit the ball where it stands. Letting the ball go is also part of his style; Merrill considers going the extra mile as his “two-strike gateway to success.” While he understands he needs to improve his 4.5% walk rate and 36.0% strikeout rate, his 16.5% strikeout rate is comfortably above the league average. More often than not, Merrill gets his bat to the ball.
Making better swing decisions is what he’s focused on right now, not just when the spotlight is on. He works on plate training during his pregame routine.
“When I’m in the cage, I try to stay in one spot and swing from there,” said Merrill, who doesn’t get a ton of benefit from hitting practice in the field. “You have to look for the center when the game starts, because if you swing anything far, or down or in the middle, it is really difficult to reach it. That’s why I love my cage work. I hit low line drives into the back of the net, which I feel helps the game more than going out on the field and trying to hit the home team. Sometimes it’s hard to keep your mind when you’re hitting BP.”
The concept he takes in his preparation translates well. One of the youngest players in the majors, Merrill does more than just hit line drives to all parts of the field; he also hits hard. Just as he intended to do.
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