After a tremendous rookie season, San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill looking like a future superstar. But an injury-riddled second year clouded that projection, casting doubt on Merrill’s ability to reach that ceiling.
Eighteen games into his third season, and it looks like the rookie version of Merrill is back.
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Merrill turned in a fantastic performance during the Padres’ 7-6 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, robbing a home run and delivering the walk-off hit after the team staged a relentless ninth-inning comeback.
Merrill’s first game-defining play came back in the third inning. With the Padres already trailing 2-0, Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez looked to add to that deficit by driving a ball out to deep center field. Merrill tracked it, timed his jump perfectly and snagged the ball over the wall to prevent the home run.
After the game, Merrill called it “the best catch I’ve ever made,” per ESPN.
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While it was a great defensive play, no one knew the role it would wind up playing later in the contest.
Despite Merrill’s home-run robbery, the Padres found themselves trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz coming into the contest, it certainly looked like the Padres were finished.
But Muñoz had an off night, giving up a double and walk to the first two batters he faced. After a strikeout, single and sac fly, Muñoz had allowed the Padres to bring one run home, but needed just one more out to secure a Mariners win.
But two more singles made it 6-5. And with Muñoz already at 26 pitches and struggling, Mariners manager Dan Wilson opted to take his closer out of the game. Reliever Jose Ferrer was called upon to get the final out. To do so, he would have to get past Merrill, whose home-run robbery in the third inning suddenly looked that much more important.
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On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Merrill delivered, shooting a sinker down the left field line for the game-winning double.
Despite the Padres being down by four runs entering the bottom of the ninth, the team managed to rally, and it has Merrill to thank for that. His defensive prowess kept the team in the game early, and his clutch at-bat won it late.
Following his big night, Merrill is hitting .261/.320/.464. He’s not back up to his rookie slash line just yet, but Wednesday’s performance was reminiscent of the promise Merrill showed as a rookie. And perhaps a sign that it’s only a matter of time before Merrill regains his All-Star form.
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