Jackson Merrill has been powering up for the Padres. Over his final 18 video games, the 21-year-old rookie outfielder has homered 9 occasions 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 teen has a dozen dingers to go together 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, certainly one of Merrill’s targets — and expectations — has been to hit for extra energy than many individuals projected he would when he was drafted twenty seventh general in 2021. Once I talked to him for Sunday Notes throughout the 2022 Arizona Fall League season, the Baltimore native informed me that he might “undoubtedly drive the ball,” including that he was trying 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 attempting to power additional energy, it’s simply type 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 complete bases over three video games. “Once I first obtained 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 return final season. His left-handed stroke produced 44 extra-base hits, together with 15 residence 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 significant league roster aside from Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio — was primarily a shortstop previous to this yr, and he’s now enjoying completely in middle subject.
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 together 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 a bit little bit of a toe faucet final yr, and at the start of this yr,” Merrill defined. “I used to be attempting to get extra timing, extra really feel in my legs, however now that I’ve obtained that really feel, I’m again to only one clean, brief, transfer ahead. I in all probability gained’t return to the faucet. I believe the faucet is a typical denominator with regards to being late. I believe I’m late quite a bit with it, as a result of some pitchers are faster to the plate and are more durable to time up. Simply having the one transfer is simpler.”
His physique in movement is sturdier than it was when some evaluators have 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 a bit stronger as I do.”
Which brings us to the strategy that helps him bash baseballs. Merrill is trying to drive pitches to all fields, not eager to promote out and thus “shut off one aspect.” He needs to, in baseball parlance, hit the ball the place it’s pitched. Letting the ball journey can be a part of his strategy; Merrill views going the alternative approach 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 higher than league common. Most of the time, Merrill will get his bat on the ball.
Making higher swing choices 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. “It’s a must to look in the midst of the zone as soon as the sport begins, as a result of for those who swing at something away, or down or in, it’s actually laborious to get your palms 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 recreation than going out on the sector and attempting to hit homers. Generally it’s laborious to maintain your mindset while you’re hitting BP.”
The mindset he’s taking to his preparation is translating simply wonderful. One of many youngest gamers within the majors, Merrill is doing extra than simply hitting line drives to all components of subject; he’s additionally hitting for energy. Simply as he meant to do.