The Padres officially announced that outfielder Jackson Merrill has been placed on the seven-day injured list for concussion-related issues. Infielder/outfielder Trenton Brooks will join the roster in Merrill’s place, as San Diego selected Brooks’ contract from Triple-A.
The placement isn’t a surprise, as Merrill was shaken up and had to be removed from Saturday’s game after receiving a hard tag from Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. Merrill was attempting to steal second base in the seventh inning, and Marte’s tag hit Merrill right in the front of his helmet. Merrill needed a few minutes to recover before leaving the field with team trainers.
It had already been decided that Merrill would sit out today’s game to undergo further examination, and it seems as though the Padres have opted to be safe and give Merrill at least the full week to recover. As always with concussion symptoms, no real timeline exists for recovery, as Merrill could conceivably start feeling better as soon as tomorrow, or he might be sidelined for well beyond the seven-day minimum.
Merrill already missed a month of action due to a hamstring strain earlier this season, but when he has been able to play, he has continued the impressive form that made him the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2024. Merrill is hitting .304/.349/.474 with five homers over 186 plate appearances this season, translating to a 132 wRC+ that narrowly tops the 130 wRC+ he posted over 593 PA in 2024.
Brandon Lockridge and Tyler Wade covered most of the workload in center field during Merrill’s previous IL stint, so that duo figures to handle things up the middle for the time being. There’s no easy way for the Padres to truly replace Merrill, of course, and the outfield mix is also still missing Jason Heyward, who is on a minor league rehab assignment.
The left-handed hitting Brooks will try to help out as depth at first base and in left field. The longtime minor league veteran finally made his big league debut last season at age 28, and Brooks appeared in 12 games for San Francisco (with a .361 OPS in 28 plate appearances) in his first taste of the majors.
Catching on with San Diego on a minors deal last winter, Brooks’ production at Triple-A El Paso has surpassed even his previous solid Triple-A numbers, as Brooks has a whopping .311/.411/.590 slash line and 14 homers over 270 PA for the Padres’ top affiliate. Replicating anything close to that at the MLB level would be immensely helpful to the Padres, and for Brooks’ chances of sticking around in the Show.
Merrill just cant stay healthy
He can’t steal bases either
A little premature and inapplicable.
He’s got one stolen base on the season
It’s wide open not being block and he’s allergic to it at this point.
Jesus Sanchez is allergic to hitting home runs too I guess right?
Ok, but Merrill wasn’t HBP, his injury happened while sliding into 2nd base.
But only if causal failure is preemptive to the statutory. And I’m not saying it isn’t, especially in the sphere of AI dictate.
just don’t discount the role of the inevitable Rossby wave
Brew88,
Stevie Steve can measure intent. He can look into the eyes and heart of every player and discern the darkness or purity of their motivation for every act.
I’m fact, he can ascertain that Merrill’s parents birthed him only – and specifically – so he could suffer this fate.
I suggest we all fall in line and yield to his powers.
Are you the teenager who claims to know everything and then whines about being “harassed” when someone questions your clairvoyance?
Steve,
Anyone on this comment board could be – or claim to be – any age.
And you have no special knowledge of anything from what I’ve read.
Just when I thought your first comment was the most hilarious I would read today, you go and reply with another.
And please, go on….
So you knew and didn’t tell the authorities? Doesn’t that make you an accessory?
Stevie – This made me spit my coffee and also wish I was wearing pants.
I’m curious what vile comments you reported and what you told them.
Get back quick, JM…you’re needed!!!
This is the old school fuddy-duddy in me talking, but if you slide spikes-first you don’t expose easily injured parts of your body and you also give the fielder something to thing about.
Someone needs to tell Marte to stop putting lead sacks in his dang glove! Guy has ten pounds in that thing!
congrats Trenton brooks
Trying to remain optimistic but not sure how more the pads can endure before this season slips away
They’re 39-31 after 70 games, I don’t get why so many people think the season is slipping away.
The bullpen is really good, the starting pitching depth has surprised given that Musgrove, Darvish, and King are all out and Cease hasn’t been performing as expected.
The lineup is admittedly flawed and they do need more pop, but they’re like a couple additions away from fixing that. Even modest upgrades at LF and C would do a lot. Losing Merrill for a week or so certainly doesn’t help the lineup issues, but he’ll be back and at some point they’re going to have to get a real LF. I don’t think we’ve seen the best version of this team yet
They should just blow it up at this point. Season is over. Trade everyone. This loss of JM for a week is the death knell and you are just too blind to see it in those rose colored glasses of yours.
The Padres should call the Cardinals about Michael Siani. He’s a Mike Shildt-type player who could give Merrill a break in CF and maybe help him avoid the wear and tear. The cost to acquire would be minimal and the Cardinals would probably be happy to get something in return for what is essentially found money.
But I defer to Stevie…..
Head first slides lead to a myriad of injuries.
Can’t understand why players don’t slide feet first more
to protect their head, hands, arms etc.
“Breakway” feet first slides still allow the runner to elude the tag on a close play.
This is not personal to you, but my thing about people complaining about headfirst slides is Ricky Henderson is the all-time base stealing leader. He slid head first every time just saying.
Yeah but he was actually good at it.
Padres need better production from LF
(as everyone knows)
Miami’s Marlins Kyle Stowers LF/RF would be a great pickup.
He is also a native of San Diego.
Also, he may be less expensive than Boston’s Duran.
That’s what I’ve been saying since late April! Stowers.
But he won’t be cheap at this point
April Stowers mean lotsa flowers.
Why is Marte playing baseball with a boxing glove?