The San Diego Padres had one of their quieter offseasons in recent memory due to limited payroll flexibility, but the team still carries high expectations into 2026. Much of that optimism stems from their offensive core, which is headlined by multiple All‑Stars, including center fielder Jackson Merrill.
The 22‑year‑old remains one of San Diego’s most promising foundational pieces. His future with the franchise is secure after signing a nine‑year, $135 million contract extension last April, a deal he has already outperformed.
Even in an injury‑riddled 2025 season, Merrill posted a .264 batting average, .317 on‑base percentage, .774 OPS, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs across 115 games.
© David Frerker-Imagn Images
Merrill and the Padres wrapped up spring training on Tuesday. The MLB season for San Diego officially begins Thursday at Petco Park, where the club will host the Detroit Tigers for a three‑game series.
On Monday, the Padres announced their Opening Day starter on social media. The decision came down to Michael King and Nick Pivetta. Ultimately, the Padres chose Pivetta to take the ball. The move makes sense given how dominant Pivetta was last season.
In his first year with San Diego, he posted a 2.87 ERA across 31 starts with 190 strikeouts in 181 2/3 innings. Merrill took to Instagram to share the Padres’ announcement graphic on his story and added a one‑word message that read, “Yes.”
Merrill is likely excited to see Pivetta get the nod after witnessing his dominance firsthand last season. The two have also formed a strong bond off the field beyond simply being teammates. Both remain central figures in helping the Padres push for a third straight postseason appearance with hopes of making a deeper run in October this time around.
Merrill will also look to return to the form he displayed in 2024, his rookie season. That year, he finished runner‑up in National League Rookie of the Year voting and earned his first All‑Star selection and Silver Slugger Award. San Diego believes that a fully healthy Merrill is essential to maximizing the club’s potential in 2026.
Related: Padres Make Fernando Tatis Jr. Decision at Spring Training
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
