Padres prospects Jackson Merrill and Mason Miller crack MLB Network's Top 100, showcasing their rising star power and impact on San Diego's championship aspirations.
The San Diego Padres have a lot of talented players on the roster entering the 2026 MLB season.
Two of them are outfielder Jackson Merrill and flame-throwing closer Mason Miller.
The MLB Network released its top 100 list and did 10 players at a time, and both Merrill and Miller made the list in the top 60.
Here is the rankings of the 51-60 players on the list:
- Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
- Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
- James Wood, Washington Nationals
- Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers
- William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
- Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
- Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers
- Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
- Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
- Mason Miller, San Diego Padres
So, Merrill is at No. 59 while Miller was at No. 60 in these rankings.
Merrill has quickly become a centerpiece of this Padres team, and new manager Craig Stammen admitted he has big hopes for him this year, saying he expects him to be the "stud that he is."
In 2025, Merrill hit .264 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 115 games as he missed time due to injury. In 2024, Merrill broke out with a .292 average, 24 home runs and 90 RBIs in 156 games, but he finished second in the National League Rookie of the year voting behind Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes.
Miller was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Athletics last summer, and despite his name being in plenty of trade discussions, Miller should be an early pick for the NL Reliever of the Year award.
Miller appeared in 60 regular-season games between the Athletics and Padres in 2025, finishing with 22 saves and 10 holds with four blown saves.
However, with Robert Suarez signing a deal with the Atlanta Braves in free agency, that means Miller is the everyday closer for San Diego after he shared time with Suarez since coming over at the deadline.
Despite some talks of Miller being moved to a starting pitcher, Stammen and the Padres decided to keep Miller as a closer, and it seems like the best decision given the fact he is one of the best closers in baseball right now.
As the Padres enter the 2026 season, getting big production from Merrill and Miller will help them go a long way in hopes of another playoff trip.