{"id":6032,"date":"2025-06-22T19:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T19:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/6032\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T19:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T19:13:09","slug":"jackson-merrill-returns-as-two-hole-hitter-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/6032\/","title":{"rendered":"Jackson Merrill returns as two-hole hitter \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

As expected, Jackson Merrill<\/strong> is back from the concussion list and in the Padres lineup for Sunday\u2019s series finale against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s in a different spot, too: In the two-hole for the 1:10 p.m. first pitch on Padres.TV.<\/p>\n

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Sunday in San Diego. pic.twitter.com\/sk5uHOaaOb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sunday was the first day that Merrill was eligible to come off the injured list. He exited a game on June 14 after he was tagged in the face on a play at second base.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready for a baseball game, man,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cYou can\u2019t be more excited than when you get on a field any day. Doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re coming from an injury or playing every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merrill went on the seven-day concussion list the next day and returned to San Diego while the Padres (41-35) played four games in Los Angeles. He began to ramp up activity as the week progressed and worked out on the field Sunday morning before the Padres activated him. Padres manager Mike Shildt<\/strong> indicated Saturday evening that it was unlikely that Merrill would require a rehab assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a slow week overall,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cIt started slow and got progressively better. But I think after the team came back and I spent a day around people it got me more in the mindset and mood to get going. Just kind of just being chill all week, it\u2019s not good for me. I like to be active all the time. So slow was tough, but I\u2019m back and ready to go and good energy all around.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Padres went 3-4 without Merrill during this stay on the shelf and were 15-9 when he missed roughly a month with a hamstring injury earlier this season.<\/p>\n

Merrill is hitting .304\/.349\/.474 with five homers and 26 RBIs and was beginning to come out of a funk (.320\/.400\/.440 over seven games) when he hit the shelf last Sunday.<\/p>\n

Merrill was parading around Petco Park\u2019s warning track as part of a season ticketholder photo day when the Padres announced that he was activated and outfielder Brandon Lockridge<\/strong> was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.<\/p>\n

Lockridge might not even make the initial trip to join the Chihuahuas. El Paso is off on Monday and Lockridge\u2019s wife is expecting their first child on Thursday.<\/p>\n

As for Sunday\u2019s lineup, Merrill is hitting second for the second time this season as he and first baseman Luis Arraez <\/strong>flipped spots.<\/p>\n

Arraez has started 68 games in the two-hole and once as a leadoff hitter. Merrill has spent 39 games in the four-hole, four games in the five-hole and one in the two-hole.<\/p>\n

With Merrill back in center field, Tyler Wade<\/strong> will play left field and Gavin Sheets will serve as the DH for the first time since June 13. Sheets had played eight straight games in left field.<\/p>\n

Here is how the Royals (38-39) will line up for the series finale:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Wrapping up the road trip. pic.twitter.com\/hISYIg1sE1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s pitching matchup<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Seth Lugo (4-5, 3.05 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The one-time Padres finished second in AL Cy Young voting last year with the Royals (16-9, 3.00 ERA). He has seven quality starts in 13 trips to the mound this year and a 1.62 ERA in three starts so far in June. Lugo had a 3.66 ERA in 12 starts for the Padres at Petco Park in 2023. He did not face the Padres last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how he\u2019s fared against current Padres:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Randy V\u00e1squez (3-4, 3.70 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

He has a 4.08 ERA in four starts (17\u2154 IP) this month, including allowing four earned runs in 9\u2154 innings over consecutive starts against the Dodgers. V\u00e1squez has allowed four runs in 8\u2154 innings in his career against the Royals, including three runs in five innings in a win last year in Kansas City.<\/p>\n

Here is how Vasquez has fared against current Royals:<\/p>\n

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