2021 1st Edition Bowman Draft Jackson Merrill BD-119 Rookie Padres

Description: 2021 Bowman Draft Jackson Merrill #BD-119 Rookie Padres - Free Shipping.Track Record: Merrill didn't attend many of the top high school showcase events during the summer of 2020 and was subsequently viewed as a popup prospect when he began to emerge in 2021 in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. The Padres were on Merrill well before he tied the Severna Park High record with 13 homers and were happy to select him 27th overall. He signed for a below-slot $1.8 million to forgo a Kentucky commitment and held his own during his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League until a minor hip flexor injury ended his season. In 2022 he was limited to 55 games in his full-season debut because of a fractured left wrist and a hamstring injury. Even in that limited time, Merrill stood out. He hit .339/.385/.511 in the regular season and went 11-for-17 with four doubles and three steals in four postseason games to help Low-A Lake Elsinore win the California League title. The Padres sent Merrill to the Arizona Fall League after the season, where he held his own. Scouting Report: Merrill had a huge growth spurt and added nearly 30 pounds leading up to the draft. The added strength gave him plus raw power, which continues to be the main selling point even as he learns to leverage it in games. Merrill's solid bat speed and feel for hitting intrigued the Padres over multiple predraft workouts, where they tested him against the type of high-velocity pitching he did not see regularly on Maryland's prep circuit. Likewise, he was rather raw against spin during his professional debut. A year later, Merrill has developed advanced offspeed coverage for his age, not to mention an impressive left-on-left approach. He handles all types of pitches and is rarely fazed in the batter's box. His sweet swing and advanced pitch recognition and approach give him a chance to be a plus hitter with above-average power at maturity, though he is still learning to pull the ball in the air. Just as Merrill rapidly improved as a hitter, he upped his range, mobility, first-step reads and arm strength in his first full year to silence concerns about him moving off shortstop. He is a fundamentally sound defender with polished hands and footwork that is the result of his dedication to his pregame work. Just an average runner, Merrill makes every play as a result of his excellent pre-pitch positioning and anticipation and completes every throw with his above-average, accurate arm. Club officials rave about his culture-changing makeup that will help him overcome any challenges. The Future: Merrill has the ability to play shortstop, but the Padres' depth at the position could ultimately push him to second or third base, where he would be an athletic defender with a bat that could produce in the middle of the order. He projects to move quickly for a high school player and could jump straight to Double-A San Antonio to begin 2023. - Baseball America

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Location: Olathe, Kansas

End Time: 2024-10-30T02:38:56.000Z

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