For Caden Merritt, the transition from high school state baseball champion to life as an everyday player occurred in less than 24 hours.

After helping lead Gainesville to the Class 6 title June 14, Merritt had a moment to celebrate the accomplishment with teammates and his family.

Then he returned home, packed and left the next morning for Frederick (Md.) to begin playing in the Major League Baseball Draft League. It’s how the schedule worked.

To acclimate himself to a new environment against a higher level of older and more experienced players with the hopes of boosting his draft stock, he needed to start as soon as possible with the Keys. There was no extra time for Merritt to take a break.

Although the quick turnaround meant he was unable to attend the Gainesville team banquet that Tuesday or even have a second to return his No. 2 jersey, the tradeoff has been worth it.

“It means a lot,” Merritt said. “I’m learning to be a better baseball player.”

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Founded in 2021, the MLB Draft League is divided into two seasons. The first half is for draft-eligible players from college and 2025 high school graduating classes who compete from June 4-July 12 leading up to the MLB Draft July 13-14. The second half of the season is for pro players.

Draft-eligible players for the MLB Draft League are typically chosen based on evaluations by scouts as well as recommendations from other sources, including college coaches. Prep Baseball Report oversees the selection process.

Merritt received his formal invitation to play in the league June 4. His agent, a family friend named Michael Sanders who works for Roc Nation, set everything up so Merritt would have another chance to get in front of MLB Scouts. The outfielder, who graduated from high school and turned 18 in May, is a possible top-10 round selection in this year’s draft.

Scouts have paid close attention to the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Merritt this season, especially watching and interacting with him at batting practice this spring. He has had a number of invite-only workouts already with MLB teams, with the most recent being June 7 for the Baltimore Orioles at their Single-A affiliate in Aberdeen (Md.). His next scheduled workout is June 30 in South Carolina for the Chicago Cubs. Workouts with other teams are possible.

MLB teams covet his speed, which allows him to thrive at center field as well as be a constant threat on the bases. He led all of Virginia with 30 stolen bases this season in 32 attempts.

Hitting lead-off, the four-year starter at Gainesville recorded a team-high .421 batting average, while totaling a team-high six homers, 27 RBI and 38 runs scored. He had a .763 slugging percentage and a .587 on-base percentage.

Four-year starter Caden Merritt is a two-way threat for Gainesville

Despite all the attention from pro scouts, Merritt is taking a low-key approach toward the draft. If he is selected somewhere in the 20-round draft, he’s open to signing with an MLB Team as long as financial considerations are met.

Merritt and his agent have discussed what it would take financially for him to pass up a scholarship to College World Series runner-up Coastal Carolina. But he and Sanders are keeping those figures private for leverage purposes.

“Right now, I’m committed to Coastal Carolina,” Merritt said. “There would have to be a right number and right circumstances [to give that up].”

As he awaits the draft, Merritt is enjoying his time with Frederick. Since the league is dominated by college-aged players, many of whom are from top 25 Division I schools, Merritt is tested by pitchers who throw at smaller strike zones with faster velocities and sharper movement than anything he faced in high school.

With a smaller margin for error, Merritt is adjusting to a process that requires even more patience than usual.

Rotated into the lineup as one of eight outfielders listed on the roster, he started his first game June 19 by going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, one run scored and one walk. Although he was making good contact, Merritt also went hitless in his second game June 21 before breaking out the following day in a 7-1 win against Mahoning Valley, when he went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple and three RBI.

“The biggest thing is you have to make better decisions,” Merritt said of the difference between playing in high school and in the MLB Draft League.

The opportunity gives him the chance to learn from professionals. Preston Wilson, the Keys’ first-year manager, is a former all-star who played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues as an outfielder. Hitting coach Tony Diaz previously served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Twins. Pitching coach Jimmy Nelson spent eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers

In addition, Merritt is getting a taste of what life would be like as a pro baseball player. With all expenses paid by the league, he’s away from home for the first time, living in a hotel room and enduring long bus rides to one of Frederick’s five opponents in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mondays are the team’s only off days.

Merritt is one of only three 2025 high school graduates listed on Frederick’s 34-player roster.

“It’s an adjustment, but it’s still baseball,” Merritt said.

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