A silver lining for the San Diego Padres has been the rapid rise of Jackson Merrill through their minor league system. He went from a promising prospect to a top-of-the-order run-producer in 2024. The rookie centerfielder became a legitimate force in the Padres’ lineup. Merrill batted .292 with 24 HR and 90 RBI in 156 games.
Unfortunately, the hitting phenom took a step back in 2025. A combination of injuries and a two-month-long hitting slump resulted in underwhelming offensive numbers last season.
Merrill batted .264 with 16 HR and 67 RBI in 115 games.
If the Friars are going to contend in 2026, he will need to take the next step offensively.
2025 was great until it was not
Merrill had a strong start to last season by hitting .300 in the first two months of the campaign. However, the young star endured three different stints (right hamstring strain in April, a concussion in June, and a left ankle sprain in August) on the injury list last summer.
Clearly, the leg injuries hampered his ability to produce at the plate. It seemed Merrill’s swing labored through the strike zone. June (.238) and July (.196) saw his batting average dip significantly.
No one ever questioned whether he could play through pain. Instead, if Merrill needed more time to get healthy, it would have allowed him to contribute to the lineup. He did rebound to have a solid September (.275) with more quality at-bats that resembled his approach from earlier in the season.
Time to get back to basics
Yes, Merrill did experience some bad luck, but his slugging percentage decreased in 2025, which was alarming. It went from .500 in 2024 to .457 last season.
Merrill is one of the hardest hitters in baseball, with a rate of 43.6 percent, which exceeds the league average of 40.0 percent. But his struggles at the plate confirm there is room for improvement. Hopefully, all it will take is a few adjustments before Merrill is hitting line drives in the gaps once again.
The Friar Faithful take great pride in the growth of their homegrown talent. But it is time for Merrill to maximize his offensive prowess and become the next force in baseball.
The Padres’ success hinges on him taking the next step in 2026.
