Jackson Peter Merrill (born April 19, 2003) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the San Diego Padres. Growing up in Severna Park, Maryland, he was a fan of the Boston Red Sox despite living near Baltimore; after a dominant senior season (batting .500 with 13 home runs), he was drafted by the Padres as the 27th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. After quickly advancing through the minors, he made his MLB debut on March 20, 2024, against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Seoul Series. In his rookie year, he made history as the first Padres rookie ever selected to the MLB All-Star Game (named on July 7, 2024), finishing the season with a .292 batting average, 24 home runs, and 90 RBIs. He also hit his first career postseason home run in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers in October 2024. In April 2025, he signed a massive 9-year, $135 million contract extension with the Padres, cementing his status as a franchise cornerstone.