Jackson Merrill gets a meaningful opportunity as WBC absences reshape Padres camp

Jackson Merrill has proven that he is well-ahead of his time. An All-Star at 21 years old, Merrill is everything a Padres fan could ever want, all balled up into one electrifying player.

Now, nearing 23 years of age, the only thing missing from Merrill's arsenal is that he isn't a leader. At least not yet. This is far from his fault, too. San Diego is littered with veteran leadership in Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis Jr., so maybe it's a bit crowded at the top right now? Let's not be so sure.

There might be room for one more voice at the table. If there is a leadership vacancy, it should go to Merrill, right? After signing a long-term extension last season, we should probably get accustomed to Merrill being a consistent presence with San Diego despite his youth.

Merrill will have his chance to be a leader at camp this spring with several Padres stars now gone to compete in the World Baseball Classic. This could be a solid proving ground for Merrill, who is already taking on a gritty role at spring training in the absence of Machado and Tatis Jr.

Jackson Merrill can grow into a leadership role at spring training with others departed for the WBC

Padres manager Craig Stammen specifically pointed out Merrill as a potential leader waiting to bud. Merrill isn't the only player left on the roster right now, obviously, but there is clearly a direction that Stammen wants to see the club move toward and that ideally has Merrill helping to steer the ship.

Merrill is already well-liked by fans and well-respected by teammates. His talent speaks for itself, but he's also a hard worker. The foundation is there for Merrill to step into a larger role with the Padres and be the face of the franchise. Now is the perfect opportunity for him to jump into the next stage of his career. We all trust him to thrive in this role.