Jackson Merrill has been powering up for the Padres. Over his final 18 video games, the 21-year-old rookie outfielder has homered 9 instances whereas slashing a sturdy .343/.371/.791 with a 228 wRC+. His seasonal numbers aren’t practically as stellar — the second coming of Barry Bonds he’s not — however they’re adequate to have him firmly in competition for NL Rookie of the Yr honors on the midway mark. San Diego’s hot-hitting teenager has a dozen dingers to go along with a 125 wRC+ and a .291/.325/.459 slash line. Furthermore, his 2.5 WAR is tied for tops (together with Milwaukee’s Joey Ortiz) amongst first-year gamers within the senior circuit.
For a number of years now, one among Merrill’s objectives — and expectations — has been to hit for extra energy than many individuals projected he would when he was drafted twenty seventh total in 2021. Once I talked to him for Sunday Notes through the 2022 Arizona Fall League season, the Baltimore native instructed me that he may “positively drive the ball,” including that he was seeking to get stronger and produce extra pop going ahead. When the Padres visited Fenway Park final weekend, I requested Merrill how he feels he’s progressed in that space.
“It’s not making an attempt to pressure additional energy, it’s simply form of getting adjusted to the pitching and letting it come naturally,” mentioned Merrill, who proceeded to punish Purple Sox pitching to the tune of 15 whole bases over three video games. “Once I first acquired up right here, I used to be nonetheless getting accustomed to the whole lot, and getting my timing and my pitch choice proper. The ability comes naturally while you get your swing feeling good and are placing the barrel on the ball extra.”
Merrill confirmed indicators of what was to come back final season. His left-handed stroke produced 44 extra-base hits, together with 15 house runs, between Excessive-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio. Notable in that final sentence was the upper of the 2 ranges. When he broke camp with San Diego in March — the Padres performed the Los Angeles Dodgers in South Korea to start the season — it was sans Triple-A expertise. Making his transition much more spectacular is the truth that Merrill — the youngest participant at the moment on a serious league roster apart from Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio — was primarily a shortstop previous to this yr, and he’s now taking part in completely in heart discipline.
His precocious success in opposition to huge league pitchers is coming with a swing that has “actually all the time stayed the identical.” Merrill has tinkered along with his timing mechanism, however when push involves shove he typically reverts again to what has historically labored greatest. He did simply that earlier this season.
“I had just a little little bit of a toe faucet final yr, and initially of this yr,” Merrill defined. “I used to be making an attempt to get extra timing, extra really feel in my legs, however now that I’ve acquired that really feel, I’m again to only one easy, quick, transfer ahead. I most likely gained’t return to the faucet. I believe the faucet is a standard denominator on the subject of being late. I believe I’m late loads with it, as a result of some pitchers are faster to the plate and are tougher to time up. Simply having the one transfer is simpler.”
His physique in movement is sturdier than it was when some evaluators had been questioning his energy potential. Nonetheless listed at 195 kilos by most publications, Merrill really now ideas the scales at 208, a weight he feels is at the moment match for his 6-foot-3 body. And whereas bulking up additional isn’t an intention, he does anticipate it to occur. As Merrill put it, “Being 21, I’m going to placed on weight naturally within the subsequent 5 years. Hopefully I’ll get just a little stronger as I do.”
Which brings us to the strategy that helps him bash baseballs. Merrill is seeking to drive pitches to all fields, not eager to promote out and thus “shut off one facet.” He needs to, in baseball parlance, hit the ball the place it’s pitched. Letting the ball journey can also be a part of his strategy; Merrill views going the alternative manner as his “gateway to success with two strikes.” Whereas he understands he wants to enhance his 4.5% stroll fee and 36.0% chase fee, his 16.5% strikeout fee is comfortably above league common. As a rule, Merrill will get his bat on the ball.
Making higher swing selections is a present focus for him, and never simply when the intense lights come on. He works on his plate self-discipline throughout his pregame course of.
“Once I’m within the cage, I attempt to keep on one pitch and swing at that,” mentioned Merrill, who doesn’t discover a ton of worth in conventional, on-field batting apply. “You need to look in the course of the zone as soon as the sport begins, as a result of in case you swing at something away, or down or in, it’s actually arduous to get your fingers to it. That’s why I like my cage work. I’m hitting low line drives to the again of the web, which I really feel helps extra within the sport than going out on the sector and making an attempt to hit homers. Typically it’s arduous to maintain your mindset while you’re hitting BP.”
The mindset he’s taking to his preparation is translating simply tremendous. One of many youngest gamers within the majors, Merrill is doing extra than simply hitting line drives to all components of discipline; he’s additionally hitting for energy. Simply as he supposed to do.
