Padres’ Jackson Merrill Out for Series Opener vs Dodgers as Injury Concerns Continue

Aug 13, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (3) leads off second base during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

San Diego Padres All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill is out of the Padres' lineup once again for the Friars' series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday.

Merrill has been out of the Padres lineup since leaving the Padres game against the Dodgers last Sunday.

The 22-year-old center fielder rolled his ankle out of the batters box against the Dodgers in their series opener Aug. 15, and struggled through the following days before he was taken out. Padres manager Mike Shildt stated the Padres would do everything they can to keep their All-Star off the injured list following their four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

“Really, quite frankly, we’re going to give every leniency to see if he can come back,” Shildt said.

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Merrill revealed he felt good enough to play earlier in the week, however the organization is taking every precaution with the future of their franchise.

"I could still play on it right now," he said. "I think it's more of an organizational decision more than mine. I want to play and I want to be in there. I think everybody saw that I wasn't right in my AB (Sunday) so I just trust them too."

Merrill has already spent a month on the injured list with a hamstring strain this season, and the last thing the Padres want would be to overexert him and lose him at the most important part of their season. The center fielder isn't quite producing at the rate he did last season, posting a .261/.317/.413 slash line and a league average OPS+ through 91 games this season, though he is still proving himself useful in the outfield with a fielding run value of four.

He broke onto the scene as a rookie in 2024, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 90 runs with an OPS of .826 on the season. He received All-Star and Silver Slugger honors for his results in 2024, and just missed out on the NL Rookie of the Year to Paul Skenes.

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The Padres will hope Merrill can make a return against the Dodgers over the weekend, as he is a key part of the team both offensively and defensively. The Padres trail the Dodgers by one game in the NL West, and Merrill would give them a massive boost in what could be the most important series of their season so far.

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