Padres Top Prospect Surprisingly Could Make Big League Club After Stellar Start To Spring Training

It sounds like one of the Padres' top prospects could make his big-league debut soon.

One of the San Diego Padres' most exciting prospects could end up making the club's Opening Day roster.

San Diego has a clear lack of outfield depth after trading away Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. The Padres have been linked to multiple free agents and possible trade options but still haven't added an impact outfielder yet.

On the bright side, this has possibly opened the door for No. 2 prospect Jackson Merrill to make his big league debut, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

"Merrill ranked No. 12 on Kiley McDaniel's Top 100 prospects list, though his appeal is as much due to his natural position as his bat," Passan said. "The Padres have a shortstop (for this year at least) in Ha-Seong Kim, but with two outfield spots open alongside right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Merrill has dabbled in center and left field.

"If the Padres sign a free agent outfielder -- former Padre Tommy Pham, Michael A. Taylor, and Adam Duvall all remain available -- it could potentially bump the 20-year-old Merrill back to the minors. For now, though, multiple sources have lauded Merrill's work ethic, and his left-handed bat is good enough that it would surprise no one if he is in the lineup when the Padres face the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the season in Seoul."

Via Jeff Passan, ESPN.com

Merrill was selected in the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by San Diego and has impressed since. He has appeared in 200 games at the minor league level and has hit 21 home runs, logged 45 doubles, driven in 114 runs, stolen 31 bases, and slashed .295/.347/.455.

This spring, he's 6-for-22 (.273) with two RBIs and a stolen base.