Before signing massive contracts and playing under the brightest lights, every superstar was once just a kid with a favorite team. And for San Diego Padres phenom Jackson Merrill, that team wasn’t the one he plays for now. The $135 million star recently shared an amazing story from his childhood, where he met his baseball hero by chance, and that shaped the formation of his love for the game in unexpected ways.
Merrill is currently lighting up the MLB in his second season, batting .303 with an impressive .822 OPS. He was most recently on the OnBase Live podcast with Mookie Betts, where the intense Padres-Dodgers rivalry was the focal point of the show. But it also gave fans a glimpse into Merrill’s past.
The 22-year-old opened up about his early days as a fan, setting the stage for a reveal that would surprise many Padres supporters. Merrill painted a vivid picture of his memorable David Ortiz encounter. It wasn’t a handshake or a signed ball, but was rather a screaming line drive during batting practice.
“I remember it so vividly coming right in my face,” Merrill recalled. He further explained how his father, sitting right beside him, instinctively snatched the ball from the air. That had a lasting impact on Merrill. “So that kind of got me on his train,” he added.
Not only did that moment put Merrill on the David Ortiz train, but it also laid the foundations of his allegiance with the Red Sox. He was a fan at just four years of age. “Somebody hit a homer in the playoffs… and I started clapping. I had no idea what was going on,” he laughed.
Merrill’s father’s passion was his guiding force: “My dad would tell me all the time that I had to be a Red Sox fan.” The center fielder further revealed that his dad was the family’s outlier, a Red Sox supporter in a sea of Mets and Yankees fans. So, for Merrill, it was a pretty simple decision: “I figured I’d roll with him.”
But that David Ortiz batting practice isn’t Merrill’s only childhood memory about Red Sox. He previously revealed his favorite player growing up was Dustin Pedroia.
He recalled watching the infamous 2017 play where Manny Machado slid into Pedroia. As a 14-year-old fan, he didn’t quite like what Machado did there. “There’s a part of me that saw him slide into Pedroia and thought, ‘Wow. This guy plays hard,’” Merrill admitted. However, he now respects his teammate’s hard-nosed style.
So, how has been Merrill’s journey at the Padres?
The Padres’ prizewinner: Merrill’s journey
Well, Merrill’s journey has been a fast track to stardom. The Padres selected him 27th overall in 2021, signing the Maryland high school shortstop for $1.8 million. He immediately showed promise, hitting .325 at Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2022.
His incredible talent was so obvious that the Padres sent the 19-year-old to the prestigious Arizona Fall League. This aggressive move, rare for a player so young, showed their immense belief in his potential.
Merrill debuted in MLB in 2024 at the age of just 20. The Padres shifted him from shortstop to center field and he adjusted to the transition with ease. His rookie year was tremendous, as he hit .292 with 24 homers, 90 RBIs. And he was the first rookie in Padres history to be chosen for an All-Star Game. He also won a Silver Slugger award and came in second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Merrill’s incredible rise has not gone unnoticed around the league. His manager, Mike Shildt, calls him “a stud” who “loves the big moments.” Teammates Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts consider him “different” as well.
Fernando Tatis Jr summed him up the best. “He just can play ball… The guy is gonna help in every single area,” Tatis said while talking about the young phenom.
Even seasoned legends are impressed with what they see in Merrill. Angels manager Ron Washington called him “a special kid.” Washington, who has been in pro ball since 1977, noted how rare it is to see a 22-year-old perform so well at this level.
“He does it all… He runs… hits… plays defense,” Washington observed. “The kid does everything and he does it with ease.”
From Red Sox fan in the stands to a Padres cornerstone, Merrill’s journey has been remarkable. The Padres have also reaped the rewards of backing him, as they currently stand 38-28 in the NL West.
What heights do you think Merrill, a former Red Sox fan, will reach with the Pads?
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