Merrill's strong Rookie of the Year argument

This browser does not support the video element.

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell¡¯s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SAN DIEGO -- Finalists for the Baseball Writers¡¯ Association of America awards will be announced tonight, and Jackson Merrill will assuredly find himself in the running for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The winner is set to be announced Nov. 18.

There will be three finalists unveiled tonight. But whoever the third candidate is, it¡¯s already clear this is a two-player race. It's Merrill vs. Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes.

Credit to Skenes. His rookie season was outstanding. I think Padres fans might be discrediting his accomplishments a bit, largely out of their desire to see Merrill win. But there will be reasonable people who vote for Skenes. His case is a strong one.

This browser does not support the video element.

All of that said, I also staunchly believe this: Merrill had a better, more impactful 2024 season than Skenes and deserves to be the NL Rookie of the Year. Here are three reasons why:

1. The accomplishments
The traditional WAR metrics are split between Skenes and Merrill. Skenes had the higher bWAR and Merrill the higher fWAR.

Skenes was dominant, posting a 1.96 ERA. But he did so in only 23 starts and 133 innings, not nearly the level of impact across Merrill's 156 games (a remarkable number for a rookie who played 15 games as a high schooler three years prior).

In those 156 games, Merrill's numbers were gaudy. He led all MLB rookies in 2024 in hits (162), extra-base hits (61), RBIs (90), batting average (.292) and slugging percentage (.500). With 24 home runs, Merrill was tied for first with Baltimore¡¯s Colton Cowser.

Merrill also played an outstanding center field (more on that later), worth 12 outs above average.

This browser does not support the video element.

Skenes, meanwhile, drew the bigger headlines upon his arrival because of the nature of his status as the sport's top pitching prospect. He proceeded to do everything he could to live up to those expectations. This is no knock against him.

It just so happens that a somewhat less heralded rookie reached those same heights -- and did so across a greater body of work.

2. All those clutch moments
Maybe this is unfair to Skenes, whose Pirates weren't in the midst of a second-half pennant race. But it's undeniably true for Merrill that he made a major impact in some of the biggest moments of the Padres¡¯ season.

That has to count for something.

Merrill's numbers are impressive enough. But not all homers are created equal. And nobody hit more clutch home runs than Merrill in 2024.

Against some of the sport's best relievers -- Mason Miller and Edwin D¨ªaz among them -- Merrill hit five game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or later. He's the youngest player in the expansion era (since at least 1961) to do so, and the first rookie.

This browser does not support the video element.

Merrill's contributions made a direct impact on the Padres winning. Isn¡¯t that the goal, after all? Just take it from Merrill himself, who was asked midseason about potentially winning Rookie of the Year.

"I don¡¯t even care about that stuff," Merrill said. "... I care about our team right here, and I care about winning."

He contributed an awful lot to that cause.

3. The intangibles
For most voters, this is strictly a numbers-based award. I guess that's fine. Most voters don¡¯t get to watch Merrill on a nightly basis. I did not have a vote for this particular award. But I gave my input to voters who asked for it. And I tried to convey the value Merrill brought which couldn¡¯t be quantified.

For one, he moved to center field having never played an inning there in his life at any level. And he did so seamlessly -- incredibly eager and coachable along the way. The Padres desperately needed a center fielder and were exploring trades in Spring Training. Then Merrill solved their problems for them.

This browser does not support the video element.

But it goes beyond that. In a clubhouse with plenty of big personalities, the 21-year-old Merrill has already emerged as a leader. His energy plainly rubbed off on a team that, frankly, needed an infusion of it after a disappointing 2023 season.

I think this quote from Michael King -- after an August start in which King struggled early but rebounded late -- summed up Merrill¡¯s unquantifiable impact:

¡°He¡¯s 21 years old; everything he does is baseball,¡± King said. ¡°It¡¯s not like he has a family that he goes home to and kids that he goes and talks to. He gets to the field, and he¡¯s so happy to be here and talks about how we¡¯re all his best friends, and we¡¯re just having fun.

¡°Now me, sitting here, having a bad outing -- I look at Jackson and I¡¯m like, ¡®That¡¯s the mentality that I need to have.¡¯ It¡¯s just his contagious mentality. We go out, and we¡¯re playing a kids¡¯ game. We¡¯re loving each other. And it¡¯s a lot easier game when you¡¯re playing for your brothers.¡±

Merrill made it pretty clear pretty quickly that he is wise beyond his years. But he still played the game with the unbridled enthusiasm of a rookie getting to live his dream.

In one week, that rookie who lived his dream should have a Rookie of the Year Award to show for it.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com