The San Diego Padres lock in Jackson Merrill to a major deal on Wednesday and he speaks on his loyalty to the Friars.

The San Diego Padres and star young center fielder Jackson Merrill have agreed to terms on a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The pact includes a $30 million club option for a 10th season that can be converted into a player option,

All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill, from Severna Park, Maryland, started paying immediate dividends on the $135 million, nine-year contract he and the San Diego Padres finalized on Wednesday morning.

All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34. Merrill’s deal includes a $30 million team option for 2035 that would convert to a player option if he has a top five finish in MVP voting at any point during the contract.

But having a relationship with a real human being and a real team like I have here, you can’t beat that.” Merrill, who turns 22 on April 19, was moved from shortstop to center field in spring training last year when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster.

But the best comparison as a ballplayer and competitor — and here me out here — is a young Derek Jeter. In Merrill, who signed a nine-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday, the Padres have themselves a mature young dude and gifted baseball rat who’s more concerned about winning the day or night’s game than anything else relating to his job.

Quite a season-opening homestand in San Diego, huh? The Padres put the cherry on top of the best start to a season in franchise history by signing Jackson Merrill to a nine-year extension on Wednesday.

The Padres announced that they have signed star outfielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year contract extension that runs through 2034 with a club option for 2035. Reportedly, it guarantees the star $135MM.