Boston Merila

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Position:
Outfielder
Ht./Wt.:
5-11 / 190
Bats/Throws:
S/R
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
St. Michael, Minn.
High School:
St. Michael-Albertville HS

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2021-22; 2022-23; 2023-24)
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2023-24)
CSC Academic All-District (2023)
David Chelesnik Jr. Award (2023 & 2024)
Northwoods League All-Star Selection (Summer 2022)
Northwoods League MLB Dreams Showcase (Summer 2022)
Ranks No. 1 in Hit-By-Pitch for a Single Season (17 times, 2023)
Ranks No. 1 All-Time at Minnesota in Career Hit-By-Pitch (42)

HIGHLIGHTS
2023 Season

2024 | SENIOR Played 33 games with 31 starts in the outfield · slashed .254/.355/.305 with six doubles · totaled 17 RBI and 23 runs scored · had 48 putouts, one assist and zero errors in the field. Game Highlights: Had two hits, two runs and an RBI on opening day · went 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored against Oregon State (Feb. 17) · tallied two hits in three at bats with an RBI and two runs scored against New Mexico (Feb. 18) · went 2-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored against Pacific (Mar. 4) · scored a run after going 2-5 at Gonzaga · went 4-6 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored against San Francisco (Mar. 23) · had one RBI and two runs scored at Iowa (Mar. 29) · went 1-2 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base against North Dakota State (Apr. 9) · slugged a bases loaded three-RBI double against Michigan State (May 11) · went 1-2 with a RBI and a run scored at Northwestern (May 17).

2023 | SUMMER Merila stayed on campus to train and lift in preparation for the 2024 season.

2023 | JUNIOR Started in all 51 of the games he played in, slashing .303/.377/.425 with 53 hits, one home run and 18 RBI · scored 25 runs, walked 21 times and was hit by a pitch a team-high 17 times · his 17 HBP ranks No. 1 all-time for a single season in Gopher laurels · posted a .425 on-base percentage, which was second on the team. Game Highlights: Plated three RBI with two hits, including a double in the season opener vs. UCSB (Feb. 17) · went 3-for-4 with a run against Saint Louis (Feb. 25) · totaled two hits, including a double, at West Virginia (March 10) · went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles at West Virginia (March 12) · tallied another three hit game with three RBI and a run in a win vs. Gonzaga (March 15) · had two hits, including a double, in a win at Illinois State (March 21) · went 4-for-7 with a double and two RBI in the final two games of the Purdue series (April 8 & 9) · doubled and scored three times in a win over NDSU (April 14) · posted hits in all three games at Illinois (April 21-23) · went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in a win over UST (April 26) · totaled three hits, including a double, in a win at Nebraska (April 29) · went 3-for-3 on Saturday at NU (April 29) · had a hit and scored a run in a comeback win over Michigan (May 6) · held a 24-game on-base streak from March 19 through May 6 · hit a two-run home run, the second of his career, in a win at No. 19 Maryland (May 12) · had two more hits and a HBP at Maryland (May 14) · singled and scored in a win over Rutgers (May 18).

2022 | SUMMER Played in 32 games for the Mankato Moondogs, hitting .310 with one home run, 18 RBI and 21 runs scored · went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored on June 14 vs. Duluth Huskies · finished the season with a 3-for-5 outing with three RBI vs. the La Crosse Loggers on July 25 · participated in the 2022 Northwoods League All-Star game.

2022 | SOPHOMORE Started in 51 of the 52 games in 2022, slashing .267/.316/.361 with 50 hits and 18 RBI · scored 29 runs, hit nine doubles and walked 19 times with four stolen bases · tallied a .966 fielding percentage, starting games at both second base and left field. Game Highlights: Had two hits and scored a run at Florida Gulf Coast (Feb. 23) · went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a win over UST (March 1) · tallied a 3-for-5 outing with two runs scored against SDSU (March 2) · registered three hits, including two doubles with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Kansas (March 5) · went 2-for-3 and scored twice at Creighton (March 19) · tallied a 2-for-3 day at the dish at Iowa (April 15) · went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored vs. UST (April 27) · had five straight multi-hit games from May 1 through May 13 · went 3-for-6 with two RBI vs. Nebraska and had the game-winning, walkoff single to beat the Huskers (May 7) · totaled three hits in four at bats with a double, RBI and run scored vs. Omaha (May 17).

2021 | FRESHMAN Made 11 starts in 25 games played as a true freshman for Minnesota · slashed .214/.323/.286 with 12 hits, five runs, one home run and 3 RBI · registered a .971 fielding percentage with 19 assists and 15 put outs. Game Highlights: Had hits in his first three games and five out of his first six as a Gopher · went 1-for-4 with a double, his first collegiate extra base hit, against Illinois (March 14) · hit his first career home run at Maryland (May 2) · tallied two hits in five at bats in a win over Purdue (May 23).

2020 | SUMMER Competed for the St. Michael Knights amateur team · batted .371 (23-for-62) with a .556 on-base percentage · hit one home run, four triples, five doubles and recorded 20 RBI.

BEFORE MINNESOTA A 2020 graduate of St. Michael-Albertville, where he was teammates with former Gophers Will Anderson, Cody Kelly and Jack Kelly · two-year starter at third base for the Knights · 2018, 2019 Mississippi 8 All-Conference · hit a combined .381 with 56 hits, 87 total bases, three home runs, 16 doubles, 48 runs and 42 RBI over the previous two seasons · ranked in the top-10 in the state in hits (29), runs (18), total bases (52) and batting average (.392) as a junior in 2019 · three-sport athlete for the Knights, also competing on the basketball team and as the football team’s starting inside linebacker as well as a team captain · received two consecutive All-District Honorable Mention nods in football from 2018-19 · led the team in tackles (82) for the second straight season in 2019 in addition to recording two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack · winner of St. Michael-Albertville’s 2020 Triple “A” Award · member of National Honor Society.

PERSONAL Native of St. Michael, Minnesota · son of Mark and Wendy Merila, the former of which was an All-American for the Gophers from 1991-94 and a long-time member of the San Diego Padres organization · intends to major in sport management at Minnesota.

WHY MINNESOTA: “The reason I chose Minnesota was because of the opportunity to join such a great culture. Minnesota is not only a great place to play baseball, but it is also a place that will give me a great education. Lastly, it's important to me that I stay close to home so my family can watch me play."