Jackson Merrill Fantasy Stats

San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Switch-hitter Bryce Johnson will start in his place, batting ninth and playing center field. It's been an ugly start to the year for Merrill, who is slashing just .185/241/333 with one home run, a 20.7% strikeout rate, and 68 wRC+ through seven games. Merrill had a quiet season by his standards last year, but now, he'd be thrilled to return to his 2025 form. The Padres will hope that Saturday's day off gives Merrill a chance to rest and reset. After all, it's a long season, and Merrill still has plenty of time to bounce back after a slow start. He ranks #18 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill needs a bounce-back campaign after injuries plagued him throughout the 2025 season. Merrill came into the league in 2024 and was outstanding as he finished ninth in MVP voting. His excellent rookie season led to many drafting him in the first three rounds during last year's drafts. Sadly, the 2025 season didn't go as planned for Merrill. He only played in 115 games due to injury. Many of his offensive numbers took a hit, but his walk rate and barrel rate both improved. His overall mechanics are solid, which means he should be able to bounce back, assuming he stays healthy. The 22-year-old said during the offseason that he feels more comfortable and physically prepared for the 2026 season. Given his age and upside, Merrill is looking like a steal at his current ADP.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill said that he's feeling more comfortable heading into his third season. He continued by saying the experience as helped, and he has developed a lot of mental strength. Merrill played in 156 games during his rookie campaign, but spent a ton of time on the injured list during his sophomore season. The 22-year-old made three trips to the injured list during the 2025 season, which led to only 115 games played. It sounds like Merrill is going to be better prepared physically for the challenges of playing a 162-game season. When healthy, Merrill is a stud, so hopefully the Padres can keep him on the field in 2026.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill was one of the stars of the 2024 MLB season, winning a Silver Slugger award and finishing ninth in the National League MVP vote as a rookie. However, the 22-year-old battled through injuries and underperformance in a disappointing 2025 sophomore campaign. Across 483 plate appearances overall, Merrill posted a .264/.317/.457 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 59 runs scored, and one stolen base. His strikeout rate rose from 17% in 2024 to 22.5% in 2025, and his slugging percentage dipped from .500 to .457. Entering 2026, Merrill should be back to full strength and could be in line for a bounce-back campaign. In addition to a potential rebound at the plate, improved lower-body health could help Merrill push closer to the 16 stolen bases he logged as a rookie. RotoBaller currently ranks Merrill as the number 16 outfielder in traditional rotisserie scoring fantasy formats.

The San Diego Padres announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) from the 10-day injured list and also recalled right-hander Sean Reynolds from Triple-A El Paso. Merrill is back in the fold for the Friars, but he won't start in Monday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Ramon Laureano will get another start in center field, but Merrill should soon return to starting duties in center field, which will in turn move Laureano back to left and Gavin Sheets into more of a bench/DH role. Merrill is returning after missing the last two weeks with a sprained left ankle. After a breakout rookie year in 2024, the former first-rounder has dealt with various injuries in 2025 and is hitting .261/.317/.413 with a .729 OPS, only nine home runs, 51 RBI and 42 runs scored. Since the All-Star break, he' hit .255 (27-for-106) with only two homers and 19 RBI in 27 games.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) is in Arizona getting live at-bats and could return for next week's home series against the Baltimore Orioles if all goes well, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Merrill will not return from the 10-day injured list when eligible on Saturday, but the 22-year-old's return may not be far off, barring a setback. He's attempting to return from a left-ankle sprain. The Padres could really use his bat back in their lineup down the stretch now that shortstop Xander Bogaerts could miss most of the final month of the regular season with a fractured foot. With Merrill out of late, it has afforded Gavin Sheets more playing time in left field with Ramon Laureano moving to center field. Merrill's power has been down since the All-Star break, as he's hitting .255 (27-for-106) with only two home runs in 27 games in the second half.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday. This doesn't come as a surprise after Merrill was held out again on Saturday to mark his sixth absence in a row. The Padres have decided to place him on the shelf, retroactive August 20. The Padres are hopeful that Merrill will be ready to go by September. The absence of Merrill means Ramon Laureano should play everyday center field. Laureano has hit well enough to warrant rostering in 12-team formats if you need another bat.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marks the sixth game in a row that Merrill has missed due to a bruised left ankle. For now, Merrill is considered day-to-day, but it's a bit surprising he hasn't been placed on the injured list at this point. The Padres are likely going to need to make a move if Merrill isn't available within the next few games. In the meantime, Ramon Laureano will cover center field and bat seventh versus right-hander Tyler Glasnow on Saturday.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Ramon Laureano is getting another start in center field and will bat seventh against Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell. Merrill suffered a left-ankle contusion in last Sunday's loss to the Dodgers and hasn't played since, missing five straight games. The 22-year-old's injury wasn't considered serious, but if he's unable to play this weekend, the Padres will certainly be considering putting him on the injured list. Merrill was an All-Star in his rookie season in 2024, but things have been tougher in 2025. He has only two home runs while hitting .255 (27-for-106) in 27 games since the All-Star break. Laureano has been hot since joining the Pads at the trade deadline but is hitting .111 in nine career at-bats against Snell.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ankle) will sit out of Thursday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Ramon Laureano will get another start in center field and will bat seventh against Giants right-hander Justin Verlander. Merrill will end up missing the entire four-game series against the Gigantes due to a bone bruise in his left ankle that he suffered in last weekend's series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hope is that the 22-year-old will be available this weekend for another crucial series against L.A., but if he isn't, a stint on the injured list could be coming. An extended absence for Merrill would mean more playing time for Gavin Sheets, who homered twice in Wednesday night's victory. Laureano has been money since joining the Friars at the trade deadline, hitting .324 (22-for-68) with four homers, 12 RBI and 12 runs in 18 games.