Jackson Merrill could make MLB history if Padres give him proper Opening Day shot

If the season started today, there's a good chance that Jackson Merrill would be part of the San Diego Padres Opening Day roster. The Friars' top prospect has played his way into the conversation with an extremely productive spring.

Through 11 Cactus League games, Merrill owns a .931 OPS with 11 hits, including three doubles. Merrill has also walked more times than he's struck out, all while playing a relatively foreign position. Merrill is an infielder who's received most of his playing time on the outfield grass.

With Fernando Tatis Jr. locked in to his spot in right field and Jakob Marsee being reassigned to minor league camp, there's a great chance for Merrill to join his teammate on a flight to South Korea this weekend and open the 2024 season as the Padres Opening Day centerfielder. If he does so, Merrill will join some elite company.

Jackson Merrill could make MLB history if Padres give him proper Opening Day shot

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, only two players in the last 50 years have started in center field on Opening Day before turning 21 years old. Those two players are Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and 10-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder Andruw Jones.

Junior made his major league debut in 1989 at the age of 19 and finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting that season. Jones, who's closing in on trip to Cooperstown himself, debuted in August of 1996, but was the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day centerfielder the following year. Jones was 20 years old.

If Merrill ends up having half the career that either Griffey or Jones did, the Friar faithful would be very happy. Merrill is a Top 100 prospect and was the Padres' first-round pick in 2021. Though he hasn't reached the Triple-A level, Merrill has shown enough during spring training to make Mike Shildt's decision very difficult.

If Merrill isn't the Padres Opening Day centerfielder next week, that likely means that San Diego is rolling with Jose Azocar or Oscar Mercado. Merrill is blocked at almost every infield position and his best chance to find regular playing time at the major league level is in center field.

Being flanked by a veteran (Jurickson Profar) in left and a Platinum Glove-winner (Tatis) will certainly help his development, and with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks pegged to lead the way in the NL West, what do the Friars have to lose?