Fernando Tatis Jr Wants to See Padres Top Prospect Make Opening Day Roster

“He just can play ball."

If Fernando Tatis Jr. gets a say in who breaks camp on the big league roster then Jackson Merrill will be alongside him in the outfield.

“He just can play ball. He can play ball — like real baseball, baseball that should be played every single day. The guy can play that game. I see him hit, see him playing defense, see him running the bases, and the guy is gonna help in every single area.”

Fernando Tatis Jr. via San Diego Union-Tribune

Merrill, 20, didn't arrive at camp with the same type of hype as his teammate but he is trying to accomplish something very few baseball players get to do — he is trying to make the opening-day roster without having ever played above Double-A.

Tatis has already endorsed Merrill publicly and that isn't something he normally does.

Merrill has acknowledged the compliment that his teammate gave him but has handled it gracefully. He doesn't boast about it, just like he doesn't like to talk about himself. He's humble.

“I don’t like to talk about myself so much,” he said. “It’s a team game. I’m big on that aspect. I don’t so much have super, super, super high confidence in myself. I do have confidence in myself, but all my confidence is in … everybody around me.”

Jackson Merrill via San Diego Union-Tribune

The Padres like what they see and hear out of Merrill, who turns 21 in a couple of months. They are ready for him to make the jump to the big leagues because, in a sport that is quick to humble its athletes, Merrill has the attitude that Tatis loves.

“You need that attitude to bring to the field,” Tatis said. “Somebody will express it more, some people will hold it a little more. But you still have that attitude inside of you. The guy’s a ballplayer. He’s gonna play winning baseball every time he steps on the field.”

Fernando Tatis Jr. via San Diego Union-Tribune