Jackson Merrill collected seven of the first-place votes that did not go to Paul Skenes last year in finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, ahead of the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio.

It was not close.

Merrill earned 104 points, compared to Chourio’s 25 despite the Brewers’ center fielder penning a campaign — 21 homers, 22 steals, .791 OPS — that might have won the award in any other year.

It’s one reason why the two will be compared for perhaps the rest of their careers.

Also, they both play center field and they are both named … Jackson.

They are, however, trending in opposite directions while sharing the field for the first time this season.

The 21-year-old Merrill went 2-for-4 on Saturday and is hitting .200/.242/.289 over his last 23 games heading into Sunday’s 10:05 a

See Full Page