2024 marks PressBox’s eighth annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.
Best Rookie Of The Year*
*Making his major league debut at just 20 years old in March, Severna Park’s own Jackson Merrill had an incredible rookie campaign for the San Diego Padres.
He hit .292/.326/.500 with 24 home runs, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. His 5.3 FanGraphs WAR was tops among all MLB rookies in 2024. He kept it going in the postseason, batting .250/.333/.500 and becoming the youngest player to hit a playoff triple in more than a decade.
He made his first career All-Star appearance in July, but Merrill was actually beat out for National League Rookie of the Year honors by Pirates pitching phenom Paul Skenes.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
For more Best Of, visit PressBoxOnline.com/BestOf.
Plus: Check out PressBox’s 2024 Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year, Lamar Jackson.
