Earlier this week, as Merrill toiled through the worst slump of his young career, it was posed to him that the upcoming All-Star break might come at a perfect time — that perhaps Merrill could use a few days to recuperate and ready himself for the second half.
The Padres’ star center fielder was having none of it.
“A break? I don’t want a break,” Merrill said. “I never want a break. Especially right now. If I happen to find it, then we go on break? I’d rather just keep playing.”
Don’t look now, but Merrill may have found it. He picked quite a time, too. Sure, it’s just two days before the All-Star break. Well worth it, after he slugged the Padres to a 5-4 victory over the Phillies on Saturday evening at Petco Park.
Merrill hadn’t notched a hit in a full week’s worth of games, and he hadn’t homered since May 27. On Saturday, he snapped both of those skids with one swing — an opposite-field home run against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. Then, a few innings later, Merrill tacked on another home run for good measure.
Merrill became just the third player with multiple home runs in a game against Wheeler (who has spent most of the decade flummoxing the Padres). Only Buster Posey in 2021 and Cody Bellinger in 2017 had taken Wheeler deep twice.
Clearly, it’s hard enough to hit one of the best pitchers in baseball when you’re going good. But Merrill entered Saturday mired in an 0-for-20 funk. Since he returned from the injured list on June 22, he was hitting .138 with a .429 OPS.
Throughout, Merrill has maintained steadfast confidence in himself at the plate. And, yes, he always has. But he never before had been tested like this. During his run to second-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year Award voting, Merrill practically never slumped.
He said the hits were coming — and they came just when the Padres needed them, even if Merrill will reluctantly be taking a few days off soon.
