PEORIA, Ariz. -- San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt stopped just short of declaring that shortstop prospect Jackson Merrill has already locked down an everyday role in his outfield, even though it has become fairly obvious throughout camp. All he would say Tuesday is that the 20-year-old shortstop-turned-center fielder will be on the Padres' season-opening trip to South Korea.
"He's earned his way on the plane," Shildt said shortly after watching Merrill hit an opposite-field home run off All-Star starter Zac Gallen. "He's earned what's coming after the plane."
The Padres began spring training with only two outfielders on their 40-man roster and promised to give Merrill every opportunity to solidify a regular role, even though he has played in only 46 games above Class A.
Merrill, ESPN's 12th-ranked prospect to begin the season, came up as a shortstop and began playing left field toward the tail end of the 2023 minor league season. His time this spring has come almost exclusively in center field, a position he had never played until training there this offseason. Scouts who have watched Merrill throughout spring training say he has handled himself well there, but what has really stood out to them is his bat.
Merrill has hit .343/.395/.600 through 38 Cactus League plate appearances, with several hard outs sprinkled in. His home run Tuesday was his second in as many days.
"I'm not being self-centered, but that's what I should do," Merrill said. "I should have a good AB, be ready to swing, be ready to hit. They come at you. [Gallen] came at me with a fastball, and I was ready to go. I'm not going to talk anything bad on his name -- he's a great pitcher -- but I was ready to go at that point."
A late-rising high school prospect out of Maryland, Merrill was drafted by the Padres with the 27th overall pick in 2021, then watched his elite bat-to-ball skills translate to the professional ranks. Merrill has hit .295/.347/.455 in 200 minor league games at three levels in the Padres' system, though he has yet to reach Triple-A.
His age and lack of upper-level experience, not to mention his transition to a foreign position, made Merrill's prospects for Opening Day seem like a long shot. But Merrill has produced -- at a time when the Padres, who traded Trent Grisham and Juan Soto over the offseason, have a clear need. Soon, he's expected to join Ken Griffey Jr. and Andruw Jones as the only players since 1974 to start in center field on Opening Day before turning 21.
Given that, Shildt was asked if Merrill had exceeded his expectations.
"No, Jackson has not exceeded my expectations," Shildt said. "I don't put a cap on players, including Jackson. This guy's a special talent. I was pleased for him, it was fun to watch, but it was not surprising. This guy is a really good player."