The similarities between Jackson Merrill and James Wood run deep. A pair of smooth left-handed swinging top prospects out of Maryland, what bonded these two future stars the most was that they were supposed to be the future of the San Diego Padres' outfield.
In 2021, Merrill was drafted in the first round by the Friars, then Wood in the second. The franchise nailed both picks, and the future looked bright. Until Wood was traded by San Diego to the Nationals just one year later. It altered the way the Padres would operate their outfield.