Jackson Merrill Goes From Futures Game To MLB All-Star & Joins Distinguished Group

Image credit: Jackson Merrill (Photo via Getty Images)

Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is one of three rookies to make the all-star team this season, joining Pirates pitching sensation Paul Skenes and 30-year-old Japanese import Shota Imanaga.

Just as exclusive is the club Merrill joined by appearing in the Futures Game one year—he went 0-for-2 in last year’s prospect showcase in Seattle—and then the All-Star Game the next. He’s just the 15th player to accomplish the feat in 25 years of Futures Game history.

In other words, Merrill seamlessly transitioned from hot-shot prospect to all-star rookie in the span of one year.

Hey now, The Kid’s an All-Star 🥹 pic.twitter.com/1FWa2pG1xh

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 7, 2024

That’s impressive, and so is this fact: Ten of the 14 previous players in the FG-to-ASG cohort went on to win the Rookie of the Year award, including Corbin Carroll (2023), Julio Rodriguez (2022) and Pete Alonso (2019).

Merrill enters the all-star break as the National League ROY favorite.

Here’s an overview of the 15 players who appeared in the Futures Game one season and then the All-Star Game as rookies in the next. Players are presented in reverse chronological order, with statistics for their Futures Game and All-Star Game seasons.

Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2023	20	A+/AA	114	511	15	15	.277	.326	.444
2024	21	MLB	92	338	12	10	.285	.319	.445

Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2022	21	AA/AAA	93	442	24	31	.307	.425	.611
2023	22	MLB	155	645	25	54	.285	.362	.506

Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2021	20	A+/AA	74	340	13	21	.347	.441	.560
2022	21	MLB	132	560	28	25	.284	.345	.509

Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2018	23	AA/AAA	132	574	36	0	.285	.396	.580
2019	24	MLB	161	693	53	1	.260	.358	.583

Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs

Year	Age	Lev	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2014	22	AA/AAA	138	594	43	15	.325	.438	.661
2015	23	MLB	151	650	26	13	.276	.369	.488

Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins

Year	Age	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2012	19	A/A+	25	25	134	1.75	0.1	2.4	10.6
2013	20	MLB	28	28	172.2	2.19	0.5	3.0	9.7

Mike Trout, OF, Angels

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011	19	AA	91	412	11	33	.326	.414	.544
2012	20	MLB	139	639	30	49	.326	.399	.564

Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011	18	A/AA	109	452	17	26	.297	.393	.501
2012	19	MLB	139	597	22	18	.270	.340	.477

Jason Heyward, OF, Braves

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009	19	A+/AA/AAA	99	422	17	10	.323	.408	.555
2010	20	MLB	142	623	18	11	.277	.393	.456

Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers

Year	Age	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2009	21	AAA	25	13	77.1	3.49	0.2	3.5	8.7
2010	22	MLB	70	0	69.1	2.73	0.6	2.3	9.2

Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2007	21	AA/AAA	136	575	26	4	.299	.402	.520
2008	22	MLB	122	508	27	7	.272	.343	.531

Geovany Soto, C, Cubs

Year	Age	Level	G	PA	HR	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
2007	24	AAA	110	449	26	0	.353	.424	.652
2008	25	MLB	141	563	23	0	.285	.364	.504

Francisco Liriano, LHP, Twins

Year	Age	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2005	21	AA/AAA	27	27	167.2	2.63	0.5	2.7	11.0
2006	22	MLB	28	16	121	2.16	0.7	2.4	10.7

Bobby Jenks, RHP, White Sox

Year	Age	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2005	24	AA	35	0	41	2.85	0.2	4.4	10.5
2006	25	MLB	67	0	69.2	4.00	0.6	4.0	10.3

Ben Sheets, RHP, Brewers

Year	Age	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2000	21	AA/AAA	27	26	153.2	2.40	0.5	3.3	7.0
2001	22	MLB	25	25	151.1	4.76	1.4	2.9	5.6