Merrilly We Roll Along

Jackson Merrill (SDP): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

The top spot could’ve gone to the first two names below, especially Candelario, but Merrill hit a walk-off home run off of Mason Miller, so that’s worth something.

When the Padres added Merrill to the major league roster, honestly, I was having CJ Abrams flashbacks and was worried that they had once again rushed their top prospect. Merrill looks much more comfortable than Abrams did in his start, and even with some downs, he’s been really solid for the Friars.

I believe Merrill is the second youngest player in the MLB behind Jackson Chourio. He was born in 2003, have fun thinking about that and how it was 20 years ago. The MLB is difficult, and an organization thinking a player is good to go at 20 or 21 is telling of what they think of said player. Chourio has been slow to start, but he’s shown flashes of why he’s there. Merrill is the same way but so far, he has shown much more on offense. It’s tough to not compare the two because they feel like similar players. Both should have a nice power/speed combo and are exceptional in the field.

Merrill plays every day and with how he’s looked early on, especially in dynasty, he is looking like a stud. In redraft, with how depleted the outfield is, he is still a solid option. I expect him to continue to take steps throughout 2024 and I wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up a Top-20 outfielder.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Wednesday

 

Jeimer Candelario (CIN): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.

The almost, so close, player of the night is the Candy Man Candelario. Dang, the original Candyman is good, the remake wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the original. Candelario was off to quite the slow start, so much so that I ended up dropping him in a few leagues. Since around the beginning of May, he’s turned it around. Injuries have completely decimated the Reds, so Candelario producing is something they desperately needed. If a team in your league dropped him, maybe say a team whose manager is Seth Klusmire, add him.

Donovan Solano (SDP): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

Solano can still get on base, even at 35. I was a bit shocked watching the Padres last week to hear his name, I thought he was still on the Twins. Wednesday, the Padres scored all of their runs via home run with Solano and Merrill knocking out two a piece. That’s fun. I don’t think there is much here with Solano in fantasy, but with those on-base skills, he isn’t the worst add in a categories league.

Royce Lewis (MIN): 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.

This is crazy. I’ve never seen a player so frequently hurt, and then when back looks like the best player in baseball. Lewis is healthy and look at that, he hit another home run. For fantasy purposes, I do not trust Lewis because availability is the best trait. But I completely understand people who want him on their team, cause this is ridiculous.

Starling Marte (NYM): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

The ageless wonder, Starling Marte has looked like his old self in 2024. He’s going to get injured here and there, he’s 35 and does have an injury track record. But because of where he was going in drafts, and the outfield being thinner than Conan O’Brien’s lips (they are weirdly thin, look it up), he should not be available in any league. I’m sure there’s someone on your roster worth a drop if Marte is out there.

CJ Abrams (WSN): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Hey, look at that. I mentioned Abrams above because the Padres rushed him in a big way to the majors. In the second half of last year, Abrams finally started to put it together. He was in a bit of a slump in May, but seeing a home run on Wednesday is quite encouraging. I wasn’t too keen on Abrams in drafts because of the ADP, but I’ve always been a believer in his talent. Let’s see if he can continue to grow.

Yordan Alvarez (HOU): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Is Alvarez going to stay healthy all year? Mark that down as something we would all love to see. A full season of Alvarez has always felt like an absolutely ridiculous fantasy player, and we are getting a taste of it now. Pray for health, prayer circle.

Carlos Santana (MIN): 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Another ageless wonder, although this one may not count as much cause the Twins were teeing off against the Rockies Wednesday. That’s like a team of older brothers playing a team of younger brothers, and the younger brothers can’t see or throw the ball or hit. Santana is a staple of the waiver wire year in and year out, he will remain there for 2024.

Ryan McMahon (COL): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

Look who’s heating up, after a rough stretch for a bit. As a Rockies fan, I am hoping McMahon gets traded to a contender so that he can get far far away from this depressing world at 5280. And as a fantasy player, I want him traded to the Yankees. He’s a name to keep an eye on. He’s solid as is, but there’s a chance, although a slim one, that he gets traded. His production won’t go down in a new uniform, people still don’t believe that, right?

Francisco Lindor (NYM): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

I’ll keep it short and sweet. Lindor is one of the best players in the game and all players can have slow starts or bad stretches.

Cody Bellinger (CHC): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Bellinger seems to be figuring it out for the Cubs, even though the Cubs are in the middle of a terrible stretch. It feels like a funk, there’s a lot of talent on that team. Bellinger is putting up Bellinger numbers and I’m always just happy that he didn’t turn into a complete pumpkin.

Matt Olson (ATL): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI.

It’s crazy how bad Olson has been. It’s crazy how bad the Braves have been! His Statcast page is definitely not as blood-red as last year, but it still isn’t bad. Speaking of funks, it feels like the Braves are just in the muck. Don’t give up on Olson, but right now I’m sure he’s hurting a lot of teams.

 

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)