San Diego Padres’ rookie Jackson Merrill is one to watch. He made history on Wednesday as he set a single-season franchise record for the most RBIs by a Padre rookie. It is a monumental day in his young career. With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Tigers, Merrill hit a three-run homer to right field off Keider Montero. This blast gave him 82 RBIs for the season, surpassing the franchise record of 79 set by Benito Santiago in 1987. That record had stood for almost four decades, and Merrill’s performance is indicative of the kind of special player he is.
Jackson Merrill Sets New Record
The previous record holder, Benito Santiago, had an outstanding rookie year. He went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year and became a five-time MLB All-Star. Santiago is also a member of the Padres‘ Hall of Fame. Merrill brings fresh excitement to the Padres, and now he is in the limelight as one of the team’s brightest stars. Merrill isn’t stopping at the RBI record. The San Diego outfielder is also closing in on the Padres’ rookie home run record. To date, he has hit 22 home runs-just four shy of Hunter Renfroe’s mark set back in 2017. Jackson Merrill’s power at the plate has been huge in his successful rookie season so far.
Just 21, Jackson Merrill has made quite the impression. He was just the third player to start a season in center field. His numbers have been impressive: a.291 batting average, supplemented by very good numbers in hits, runs, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, and more. Merrill has proved he can come through in the clutch, hitting five game-winning or game-tying home runs this season in the ninth inning or later. That’s an MLB record for most such home runs by a player aged 21 or younger. His clutch performances have been one of the main reasons the Padres are where they are.
With each game, Merrill flexes as one of the league’s rising stars. Performing in the important moments has been crucial for the Padres. On Wednesday, his home run perfectly illustrated his knack for huge performances.
NL Rookie of the Year Contender
Merrill has been a candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year on pace with a breakout season. He became the favorite over Paul Skenes. Merrill’s consistency throughout the year, along with his above-average numbers in RBI and home runs, puts him in a strong position for the award.
Of course, Merrill is the odds-on favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year. Skenes, who was once the top candidate for the award, has now slid down to the second-best odds at +400. And it appears Merrill’s prospects are good with less than one month left in the season.
In this way, Jackson Merrill’s historic season has created a lot of excitement and hope for the Padres. He has been one of the best consistently in the majors through his accomplishments on the field, coming through in key moments to help his team win. Those make him not just an extremely important player for the team but also a strong candidate for NL Rookie of the Year. The future is bright for Merrill and the Padres.
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