Merrill an NL ROY finalist; Shildt up for MOY

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have two finalists for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards, which will be unveiled later this month.

Center fielder Jackson Merrill is a contender for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, along with Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio and Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes.

• 2024 BBWAA award finalsts revealed

Meanwhile, Mike Shildt -- fresh off his contract extension -- will be up for NL Manager of the Year, along with Milwaukee's Pat Murphy and the Mets' Carlos Mendoza.

Neither of those nominations should come as a surprise. Merrill is coming off perhaps the greatest rookie season in franchise history. Shildt, meanwhile, led the Padres to a 93-69 season -- the second-highest win total in club history -- on the heels of a disappointing 2023 campaign.

The Rookie of the Year Award will be announced on Nov. 18, followed by Manager of the Year on Nov. 19 -- both on MLB Network, with awards shows beginning at 3 p.m. PT. The Padres did not have a finalist for the MVP or Cy Young Award, though they have a few candidates who could receive down-ballot votes on each.

Merrill made his big league debut in Korea during the season-opening Seoul Series, playing center field. That alone was remarkable enough: He joined Andruw Jones and Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to start in center field on Opening Day before their 21st birthday.

• All-time Rookie of the Year winners

Throw in the fact that Merrill was a lifelong shortstop who had never played center at any level …

“What he's been doing is incredible, and his energy's always been top notch,” Padres third baseman Manny Machado said. “We've put him in so many situations -- Korea, an All-Star Game, clutch moments.”

Merrill thrived in all of them. He became the youngest Padres player to appear in an All-Star Game, but his season didn’t truly take off until the second half. Merrill authored big home run after big home run – including five game-tying or go-ahead homers in the ninth inning or later. He was the youngest player in MLB history to achieve that feat.

By season’s end, Merrill led all MLB rookies in hits (162), extra-base hits (61), RBIs (90), batting average (.292) and slugging percentage (.500). With 24 home runs, he finished tied for first with Baltimore’s Colton Cowser.

No Padres player has won the Rookie of the Year Award since Benito Santiago in 1987. Merrill’s biggest competition for the honor is Skenes, who turned in a similarly dominant season on the mound, though Skenes was called up in May and made only 23 starts. Skenes had a higher bWAR and Merrill had a higher fWAR. It’ll be close.

Manager of the Year might be, too. Like Shildt, Mendoza led a disappointing team in 2023 to the postseason in ’24. Murphy, meanwhile, led the Brewers back to the playoffs after Craig Counsell’s stunning departure for the Cubs.

• All-time Manger of the Year winners

But Shildt’s case to become the Padres’ first Manager of the Year Award winner since Bud Black in 2010 is a solid one. The Padres improved situationally and were much better in close games under Shildt in 2024. Their clubhouse clearly improved, too, following a significant amount of roster turnover.

It’s often difficult to diagnose the factors directly attributable to a manager’s impact, but Shildt deserves plenty of credit for San Diego’s on-field success in 2024. The Padres agreed, finalizing an extension on Wednesday that will keep Shildt in San Diego through the ’27 season.

“This extension is a sign of just a job really well done, production,” said general manager A.J. Preller. “He took a talented group and got them together, really from Day 1. He brought a competitive spirit to our team and brought a lot of joy, energy and happiness to the city of San Diego. It was a lot of fun to be a part of it with him here this year.”