SAN DIEGO -- After recording four hits in Thursday’s opener, Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle had eyes for his first big league home run on Friday night.
Jackson Merrill wasn’t having it.
The Padres’ star center fielder ranged to the wall and made an incredible leaping grab to rob McGonigle of a certain home run in the second inning of Friday’s game at Petco Park.
Merrill, a lifelong infielder until his 2024 callup, has established himself as an excellent defensive center fielder across his first couple seasons in the Majors. He made multiple home run robberies last season -- and he’s off to quite a start this year as well.
McGonigle got hold of a 1-2 fastball from King, sending it 403 feet, just to the right of straightaway center. Merrill steadily ranged to the track and timed his jump perfectly -- with some help from the Padres’ fans in the first row who smartly ducked out of the way, allowing Merrill all the room he would need.
A day earlier, McGonigle became just the second player in Tigers history to record a four-hit game in his Opening Day debut, an 8-2 Tigers victory. He’ll need to wait just a little longer for that first career home run, though.