MLB Network panics Padres fans to come to defense of Jackson Merrill over traded star

The similarities between Jackson Merrill and James Wood run deep. A pair of smooth left-handed swinging top prospects out of Maryland, what bonded these two future stars the most was that they were supposed to be the future of the San Diego Padres' outfield.

In 2021, Merrill was drafted in the first round by the Friars, then Wood in the second. The franchise nailed both picks, and the future looked bright. Until Wood was traded by San Diego to the Nationals just one year later. It altered the way the Padres would operate their outfield. Fernando Tatis Jr. soon became an outfielder, which was a move that worked out.

This move coveted the pain of losing Wood, who had a breakout 2025 campaign. It was so good that MLB Network has drawn comparisons between him and Merrill. This has Padres fans in a panic, trying to figure out which player is better. There might not be a clear answer, which is better than you may think.

Padres' Jackson Merrill, Nationals' James Wood draw comparisons from MLB Network

In 2025, Wood burst onto the scene with 94 RBIs, 31 home runs, and 38 doubles. The 23-year-old earned his first All-Star nod as well, handing in a 132 OPS+. Merrill, 22, had a marvelous rookie season in 2024, and got tripped up by a few injuries this year.

Merrill's 2025 season wasn't viewed as strongly as his first year, but he still wound up with a 112 OPS+ 47 extra-base hits in 115 games. Merrill also had two doubles and a home run in three postseason contests. It was a rough NL Wild Card series for the Padres against the Cubs, as the team scored five combined runs. Merrill scored two of those runs, and drove in a pair of runs, too to prove that he could rise to the occasion in October.

So, which guy is your pick? You can't go wrong either way. If Wood grew into a far-better player than Merrill, that would be a tougher pill to swallow. Padres fans miss him, but they can hang their hat on Merrill still being a star player who is capable of anchoring the team for the next decade.