The San Diego Padres may have stumbled upon their next homegrown star after asking top prospect Jackson Merrill to make a position change two springs ago. His impressive 2024 breakout campaign resulted in him receiving a 9-year, $135 million contract extension from the franchise.
Merrill shined in 2024
In February 2024, Merrill arrived at Peoria for his first taste of a major league baseball camp. Immediately, Padres manager Mike Shildt asked him to move to the outfield. Merrill was primarily a shortstop in the minors, so you expected him to get roughed up with the position change.