When Jackson Merrill was asked in fifth grade what he would like to be when he grew up, he didn’t say a firefighter, astronaut, or rock star. He was set on his goals and confidently said, “MLB Baseball Player.” And two decades later, he is living his dream life. He was selected in the first round of the 202 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, and he made his MLB debut this season and was named the reserve for the All-Star Game. In fact, he became only the fourth player in MLB history to start in center field on opening day before turning 21—talk about a stellar debut!

And it seems like 2024 is truly the year of the Jacksons, just like it was back in the 1980s, and there are some remarkable Jacksons along with Merril, like Holliday and Chourio, making a mark. Despite Jackson Merrill’s achievement at such an age, he remains grounded and credits his parents for all his achievements. And he isn’t sugarcoating!

Jackson Merrill’s family is the reason for his quick spurge in the big league!

One fine day, Jackson Merrill face-timed his mom. He had big news; a simple call wouldn’t cut it. “Your boy is a big leaguer,” Jackson squealed from the other end. He made it to the MLB opening day roaster for the San Diego Padres. And his parents couldn’t be any prouder of him. Jackson credits his parents for all that achievement and his surge in the big league. And it’s true!

His mom, Jennie Merrill, has been his backbone, steering him in the right direction—from the Little Leagues to his home run as a high school all-star in a game at Oriole Park. His coach/dad, Josh Merrill, too, left no stone unturned to support his son. He coached his son well, lessons of which he still talks about now. Jackson recalls his dad’s emphasis on the importance of making contact with baseball, a lesson rooted in an era when striking out was less accepted. “It’s just that little motivation. That’s all you need, just that little bit of spark to get him going and he does it,” said Josh Merrill.

Jennie Merrill mentioned how determined Jackson was, always saying, “This is going to be my year.” And she always said, “Alright,” because she and Josh knew that Jackson could do whatever he put his mind to. And when she saw him bringing that dream into action, she went, “Oh my gosh, he really is doing it.” So when he made it into the MLB opening day roaster for the San Diego Padres, along with him, his parents were over the moon. Josh Merrill best described the feeling as “It’s like pure joy, it’s pure joy with him.” 

From early mornings to long drives, travel ball, and those fields of Anne Arundel County, the family has lived Jackson’s dream with him. And now he isn’t just playing; he is challenging the best to get the Rookie of the Year tag!

Can Jackson Merrill end the Padres Rookie of the Year drought?

Merrill has been turning heads left and right, and now as the Padres center fielder, he is continuing to match Paul Skenes and already performing like a game-changing star, not like someone who is contending for an award. Over the weekend, he blasted his fifth home run in the eighth inning or later, tying Mel Ott for the second-most homers in that clutch spot before turning 22. Can you believe that he hit three home runs in just a few days and helped the Padres clench their 16th win in 18 games?

When there is a high-pressure situation, he is the guy to have on board. Apparently, his teammate, Jurickson Profar, is a huge fan of his and has nothing but awesome words for him. He said, “Since the first day I stepped on the field with him in spring training, he showed me that he’s that kind of player, that player that will do everything to win a ballgame. Same as me when I was young… He wants to be better every day. He’s working, shagging fly balls when he’s a guy that plays every day. He always wants to get better.”

3B Manny Machado also raves about Jackson Merill, saying, “He’s a guy that works on his craft every single day, watching video, trying to get better in center field, in the cage… He’s prepared every single day, and that’s one of the most impressive things that I’ve seen from a young player, to go out there and prepare himself every single day as he does.”

The slugger just echoed what his parents said—that Jackson is as determined as ever. Indeed, Jackson’s work ethic and his energy are some of the many reasons that help him gel well with his teammates, even when he is the youngest on board. It also helps that he is steering the team toward their win, of course! For Merril, baseball and playing well are much more than the Rookie of the Year award. However, his performances make him a stellar contender for the award. He has 17 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a .806 OPS. He seems to be on track to end the Padres’ Rookie of the Year drought. The Padres last won the title in 1987, with Benito Santiago taking the crown, so it has been a hot minute!

But one thing is for sure: Merril’s determination, ethics, and sheer will show us that this rookie is here to stay!