Outlook Jackson Merrill
Five-Category Contributor Offers Elite Center Field Upside
Entering his third big-league season at just 23 years old, Jackson Merrill is firmly locked in as the Padres' everyday starter in center field. Following a sensational rookie campaign where he posted a .290 average with 25 home runs, Merrill established himself as a premier young talent in San Diego's lineup. Although a somewhat injury-hampered second season saw some regression in his overall speed and power metrics, his outstanding natural contact skills and pedigree make him a incredibly high-floor outfielder on a competitive Padres team.
Our projection models expect a strong rebound for the young star, forecasting nearly 560 at-bats with a .269 batting average, 17 home runs, and 76 RBIs. After base-running injuries limited him to just one stolen base last year, Merrill is fully healthy and eager to run again, giving him realistic double-digit steal upside to pair with his solid power. He has historically hit well in run-producing spots in the lineup, making him an excellent source of both runs and runs batted in.
With an ADP sitting in the early-to-mid sixth round, fantasy managers are drafting a highly safe five-category contributor with room to grow. He represents a perfect target for managers seeking to secure stable batting average and solid counting stats without sacrificing power or speed. While he may not reach the elite 30-homer tier just yet, his locked-in everyday role and exceptional contact profile provide an outstanding floor with top-20 outfielder upside.
Updated 12 hrs ago
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Outlook Troy Johnston
Troy Johnston's red-hot bat makes him a must-play option for the upcoming week.
Johnston has been absolutely tearing it up over the last 14 days, posting a sparkling .348 batting average with one home run, seven runs, and 10 RBI for the last-place Rockies, who currently sit at 27-45. With outfielder Tyler Freeman sidelined on the injured list with a back issue, Johnston has solidified his role as the everyday starter in right field and is seeing consistent playing time.
While his current season average of .317 is a massive jump from his projected .257 rest-of-season mark, his elite approach against non-fastballs suggests a good chunk of this breakout is legitimate. However, expecting him to maintain a near-1.000 OPS is unrealistic; fantasy managers should prepare for minor regression toward his projected 4.1% home run rate and .311 OBP over the remaining months.
This week, Johnston has six games on tap, splitting time on the road against Chicago before returning home to Colorado. He draws several favorable matchups against vulnerable starters like Edward Cabrera (4.86 ERA) and Jared Jones (4.73 ERA), though he will have to face ace Paul Skenes (2.85 ERA) on Saturday. Given his elite form and excellent volume, he is a recommended weekly Start.
Updated 12 hrs ago
