Padres Place Star Outfielder on Injured List Amid Crucial Dodgers Matchup

Aug 12, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres outfielders Fernando Tatis Jr. (23), Ramon Laureano (5) and Jackson Merrill (3) run in from the outfield after defeating the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres have placed outfielder Jackson Merrill on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain.

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The team announced a corresponding move will be made Sunday.

We have placed OF Jackson Merrill on the 10-day IL (retro to 8/20) with a left ankle sprain. A corresponding move will be made tomorrow.

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 23, 2025

The earliest the 22-year-old can return is during the Padres' series against the Minnesota Twins, which begins Aug. 29. Merrill rolled his ankle during an at-bat in the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend.

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While he tried to play through the injury, Merrill was taken out by the fourth inning of last Sunday's series finale at Dodger Stadium.

"I could still play on it right now," Merrill 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 was not in the lineup for Friday's series opener at Petco Park, but the Friars managed to take the first game of the series against the defending World Series champions.

The Padres were content with playing a man short as Merill had not been in the lineup the past few games. The hope was that the outfielder would recover quick enough to avoid an injured list stint, as manager Mike Shildt said.

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

It appears the Padres have now pivoted and will hope their star outfielder can return to full form after his time on the IL. Merrill has not performed as well in his sophomore season, recording a .261/.317/.413 slash line and a league average OPS+ through 91 games this year.

However, the outfielder's time on the IL could perhaps allow him to regroup and get ready for the postseason as the Padres chase a World Series title.

With a 2-1 victory Friday night, the Padres now share the lead for the NL West with the Dodgers. While LA swept the Friars last weekend, the Padres will look to return the favor this time around.

“It was huge,” Tatis Jr. said after Friday night's win. “Everybody knew what happened last weekend. We were trying to get the first one. Now we’re aiming for the last two.”

For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.