Padres Rising Star Cracks MLB 'Top 25 Under 25' List Heading Into Third Season

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill has solidified himself as one of baseball’s brightest talents, and he recently earned himself a spot on Bleacher Report’s Top 25 under 25 list. Coming in at the No. 9 spot on the list, Merrill has emerged as one of the few young talents on a Padres roster that is largely on the back half of their career.

He burst onto the radars of baseball fans back in his rookie 2024 season. He hit 24 home runs, batted in 90 runs, and finished with a slash line of .292/.326/.500 with an .826 OPS. While he was great at the plate, he was just as great in the outfield. He finished in the 92nd percentile in fielding run value thanks to his 12 Outs Above Average and great arm strength.

Not only was it enough to finish second in National League Rookie of the Year voting, but even enough to earn himself a spot on the All-Star team, win the Silver Slugger, and receive MVP votes.

After his incredible rookie campaign, Merrill inked a deal with the Padres to keep him in San Diego through at least the 2034 season. Signing for nine years and $135 million back in April of 2025, Merrill immediately became a key piece of the puzzle for a Padres team with hopes of contention.

Playing in the outfield with Fernando Tatis Jr. and alongside Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts in the lineup, Merrill has brought some much-needed youth into the Padres organization at just 22 years old heading into the 2026 season.

Though he took a step back in his sophomore season, Merrill was still one of the more impactful players on San Diego’s roster. In 2025, Merrill recorded a .774 OPS while continuing to play great defense in center field. He finished with 2.7 WAR in 115 games.

Baseball has plenty of young talent to be excited about, but Merrill has cemented his spot as one of the greatest. He may not get the same attention as players like the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes or the Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, but Merrill is just as capable as they are at leaving his mark on any given game.

After the limitations of the Padres’ offseason, they are going to need their returning players to step up in 2026, and Merrill is certainly capable of being that game-changer for the Friars. Heading into his third big league season, Merrill is destined for a big 2026 with San Diego looking to return ot the postseason yet again.