Jackson Merrill

Active

San Diego Padres · Outfielder

Age 236' 2" · 195 lbsBats Left

#52 Current#69 Preseason#98 Dynasty

FBaseball Overview

The 23-year-old center fielder comes into 2026 following a disappointing sophomore campaign after a stellar 2024 All-Star season that earned him All-MLB Second Team honors. His batting average has cratered to .213 through early action, a dramatic 51-point drop from his 2025 mark, signaling serious concerns about plate discipline and contact quality that fantasy managers need to monitor closely. While his power output remains modest at eight home runs and stolen base activity (18 SB) suggests he retains speed potential, the steep decline in runs and RBI production reflects fewer offensive opportunities and reduced run-scoring environment. Merrill carries significant risk as a sell-low candidate in 2026, but his youth and prior All-Star pedigree leave room for a rebound if he can recalibrate his approach at the plate.

News Updates

Merrill collects 3 hits in Padres victory
Jackson Merrill went 3-for-4 with a strong all-around performance to help the Padres secure a victory. His hot bat continues to be a key contributor for San Diego's playoff push.
Sep 8, 2026
Jackson Merrill Reaches 20-Homer Milestone
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill joined the 20-home run club on Saturday, collecting two hits including a solo homer along with an RBI and walk in a 7-5 victory over the Twins. His continued power production makes him a consistent contributor to the Padres' offense. Fantasy owners should have confidence in Merrill's sustained production.
Aug 23, 2026
Jackson Merrill hot streak continues with go-ahead homer
Jackson Merrill is on fire for the Padres, hitting his third home run in as many games with a crucial go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning against Milwaukee. Merrill's power surge has made him one of San Diego's most valuable offensive contributors in the lineup. The outfielder is emerging as a key fantasy asset with his recent production.
Aug 11, 2026

MLB Hitting

Year	Team	G	PA	AB	AVG	HR	RBI	R	SB	K	OBP	SLG	OPS
2024	San Diego Padres	156	593	554	.292	24	90	77	16	101	.326	.500	.826
2025	San Diego Padres	115	483	440	.264	16	67	59	1	108	.317	.457	.774
2026	San Diego Padres	143	600	552	.245	24	79	74	25	143	.295	.431	.726
Career	Totals	414	1676	1546	.267	64	236	210	42	352	.313	.463	.776

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Hitting

Year	Team	G	PA	AB	AVG	HR	RBI	R	SB	K	OBP	SLG	OPS
2021	ACL Padres	31	120	107	.280	0	10	19	5	27	.339	.383	.722
2022	2 teams▼	55	250	227	.339	6	40	38	11	44	.395	.511	.906
2023	2 teams▼	114	511	466	.277	15	64	76	15	62	.326	.444	.770
2025	San Antonio Missions	2	8	6	.333	0	0	2	0	2	.500	.333	.833
Career	Totals	202	889	806	.295	21	114	135	31	135	.349	.454	.803

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

EV Avg91.2 mph

Max EV112.7 mph

Launch Angle14.6°

Barrel %12.2%

K %24.0%

Hard Hit %48.0%

Sprint Speed29.0 ft/s

Bat Speed73.3 mph

Whiff %27.1%

Chase %37.1%

xBA0.264

xSLG0.478

xwOBA0.341

GB%36.7%

FB%29.7%

What These Stats Mean

EV Avg — Average exit velocity — how hard this batter hits the ball. Elite hitters (90+ mph) make consistently hard contact, driving better batting averages and more power.

Max EV — Peak exit velocity on the batter's hardest-hit ball this season. Signals raw power potential even without a high HR total yet.

Launch Angle — Average vertical angle of the ball off the bat. The sweet spot for extra-base hits is roughly 10–30°; extreme ground ball or pop-up hitters sit outside this range.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls hit with the optimal exit velocity + launch angle combo. Barrels are the single best predictor of home runs and slugging percentage.

K % — Strikeout rate per plate appearance. High K% suppresses batting average and limits run-scoring opportunities — lower is better for fantasy.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder. A broader power indicator than barrels; high hard-hit% players rack up extra-base hits and RBI.

Sprint Speed — Peak sprint speed in feet per second. The best predictor of stolen base upside and ability to leg out infield hits.

Bat Speed — Average swing speed at the point of contact. Faster bat speed lets hitters wait longer on pitches and generates more raw power potential.

Whiff % — Percentage of swings that miss. High whiff rates signal strikeout vulnerability, dragging down batting average and overall production.

Chase % — How often the batter swings at pitches outside the strike zone. Low chase rates mean elite plate discipline — more walks, fewer strikeouts, more consistent at-bats.

xBA — Expected batting average based on contact quality, stripping out luck and defensive positioning. Better predictor of future performance than actual batting average.

xSLG — Expected slugging based on batted ball data. A high xSLG relative to actual SLG suggests power suppressed by bad luck that's likely to bounce back.

xwOBA — Expected weighted on-base average — the most comprehensive single expected metric. Combines contact quality, walks, and strikeouts to project overall offensive production.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% hitters trade home run power for speed-dependent value — good for stolen base upside, but a drag on HR and SLG categories.

FB% — Fly ball rate. Elite power hitters combine high FB% with high exit velocity. High fly ball rate + soft contact = home run or nothing type.

Articles featuring Jackson Merrill

Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: June 16, 2026
June 16, 2026
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Year

Team

AVG

RBI

OBP

SLG

OPS

2024

San Diego Padres

156

593

554

.292

101

.326

.500

.826

2025

San Diego Padres

115

483

440

.264

108

.317

.457

.774

2026

San Diego Padres

143

600

552

.245

143

.295

.431

.726

Career

Totals

414

1676

1546

.267

236

210

352

.313

.463

.776

Year

Team

AVG

RBI

OBP

SLG

OPS

2021

ACL Padres

120

107

.280

.339

.383

.722

2022

2 teams▼

250

227

.339

.395

.511

.906

2023

2 teams▼

114

511

466

.277

.326

.444

.770

2025

San Antonio Missions

.333

.500

.333

.833

Career

Totals

202

889

806

.295

114

135

.349

.454

.803