Merrill bats second upon return from concussion: 'Super fun'
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SAN DIEGO -- Jackson Merrill is back in the Padres’ starting lineup -- only not where you would expect him to be.
The Padres activated their All-Star center fielder ahead of Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Royals at Petco Park -- and in a bit of a surprise, he batted second in the starting lineup for only the second time in his career.
Merrill’s return came after he spent the minimum seven-day stint on the concussion injured list. He landed on the IL following a hard tag to the head in Arizona on June 15.
“Super fun,” Merrill said after the Padres’ 3-2 victory. “Good energy, good fans, warm weather -- can’t beat it.”
Merrill himself nearly won the game, but his would-be go-ahead home run was robbed by Royals rookie Jac Caglianone in the bottom of the eighth inning. Merrill finished 1-for-4 with a double, though all three of his outs were loud outs.
The Padres optioned outfielder Brandon Lockridge to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Merrill, of course, did not make the trip with the team to Los Angeles for this week’s eventful four-game series against the Dodgers (featuring eight hit-by-pitches and a benches-clearing incident in the ninth inning of the final game). He said he watched those games from his apartment with his girlfriend -- and acknowledged he might have stressed her out a bit with his game-watching antics.
When the team returned to San Diego on Friday, Merrill joined them, and he spent the two days going through full pregame workouts -- hitting, throwing, running and taking fly balls.
“I think after the team came back, and I spent a day around people, it got me more in the mindset and the mood to get going,” Merrill said. “Just being chill all week -- it’s not good for me. I like to be active all the time. Slow was tough, but I’m back, I’m ready to go, and I’m excited.”
Merrill’s return gives the Padres’ lineup a major boost. In 44 games this year before Sunday, Merrill was hitting .304 with an .823 OPS. He also spent time on the IL in April with a hamstring strain.
Suddenly, the Padres’ lineup looks much deeper on paper. With Merrill batting second, Luis Arraez was in the cleanup spot -- the lowest he has batted since arriving in San Diego via trade last May.
“Wherever [manager Mike Shildt] puts me, I’ll hit,” Merrill said. “I liked it today, so we’ll see how it keeps rolling.”
The Padres' biggest question mark remains left field, particularly after veteran Jason Heyward was designated for assignment on Saturday. But San Diego is no longer scrambling to fill two outfield spots. With Merrill back in center, the options for left field include Tyler Wade, Bryce Johnson, Gavin Sheets and Trenton Brooks. Wade got the start there on Sunday with Sheets at DH.