Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
Jackson Merrill
When Jackson Merrill
trotted out to center field on Opening Day of the 2024 season, he had played just six games at the position. Merrill was drafted by San Diego as a lifetime shortstop, but transitioned to center field and flourished. In his rookie year, Merrill finished runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. He had a bit of a slump in his sophomore season, being held back by injury.
Overall Grade: B
However, 2026 was a return to form. Merrill recorded the first 20/20 season of his young career, finishing the year with a career-high 26 homers and 27 stolen bases. If not for a slightly unproductive first half of the season, Merrill might have recorded the first 30/30 season in Padres’ franchise history. Along with Fernando Tatis Jr., Merrill buoyed the Padres’ second-half surge.
Merrill’s overall metrics have consistently declined since his rookie year. The center fielder’s batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS have all decreased each year. Still, 2026 was his most productive season yet with a career-high in combination of runs scored and runs batted in (173).
There’s a lot to suggest that Merrill was unlucky. His .270 expected batting average was 26 points higher than his actual mark (.254) while his .491 xSLG was 51 points above his actual (.440). Much of that may have to do with Merrill’s unbelievably high strikeout rates (career-high 160 strikeouts). If he can mitigate the Ks in 2027, Merrill could be phenomenal leader in the San Diego clubhouse this coming season.
