The San Diego Padres are facing questions about why rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill hasn’t moved up in the batting order, despite his impressive performance this season.
Merrill has made a strong impact in his first year in Major League Baseball, boasting a .292 batting average, 20 home runs, and 77 RBIs. His success earned him a spot on the 2024 National League All-Star team, leading fans to wonder if he should be batting higher than his current sixth position.
Manager Mike Shildt has opted to keep Merrill where he is, citing the effectiveness of having established hitters in front of him. This strategy allows Merrill to benefit from the experience of those ahead in the lineup while maintaining his current production levels.
“Is it working?” Shildt rhetorically asked .
“One reason it works is because we have five good hitters ahead of him,” Shildt elaborated. “… Those guys have been in this league and done this for multiple seasons. (Merrill) is in a good spot. He’s producing. As simple as that.”
The coaching staff believes that changing Merrill's position could disrupt his rhythm. They see value in his current spot, where he is contributing key hits without the pressure of being in a higher position.
“He’s having success there,” Hitting coach Victor Rodriguez said. “And he’s coming up with key hits there. A guy like that, you don’t mess with him there. He’s looking good. He’s getting key hits. He’s in a good place. A lot of times, you start moving (a hitter) around, and they think they need to do more. I don’t think it’s the right timing for that. In the future, you know, he’s going to be (up in the order). Right now, if it’s not broken, don’t mess around with it. He’s in a good place mentally, physically.”
Another consideration is the balance of left-handed hitters in the lineup. Shildt prefers not to place Merrill too close to Jake Cronenworth, another lefty, to maintain lineup diversity.
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Merrill himself is focused on his performance rather than his batting order. He understands that regardless of where he hits, his job remains the same: to contribute to the team’s success. He recognizes that being in the sixth spot can still provide him with opportunities to drive in runs, especially when the team is performing well.
“I don’t think about where I’m hitting,” Merrill said. “I’m trying to do the same job, regardless. I don’t think the two hole or six hole is that different. If I’m in the six hole the rest of my career, I’m in the six hole. If you’re in the game, who cares?"
"Six hole is usually the juice, you know? If your team is hot, your big hitters are going to be hitting doubles and singles and everything. So being in the six hole (can be) huge.”
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen if Merrill will eventually move up the order, but for now, he’s making the most of his role in the lineup.
Local News
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