NEW YORK -- The Padres entered Tuesday with the second-best record in baseball, winners of six straight.
And now they’re getting healthy.
Star center fielder Jackson Merrill joined the team in New York on Monday, and he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. He came out swinging, too -- going 2-for-4, including a laser double into the right-field corner in his first at-bat of the Padres' 12-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.
“That felt normal, felt like how it’s supposed to,” Merrill said. “I’m happy to be back, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Catcher Luis Campusano was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Merrill, who missed four weeks while dealing with a right hamstring strain, was hitting .378 with a 1.091 OPS before he went down with the injury. (He had also just inked a nine-year contract extension, too). Merrill spent the weekend in San Antonio playing a pair of rehab games, where he went 2-for-6 with a walk.
“Just a very professional rehab,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said on Monday. “He dominated every day what he was able to do. … Great to have him back.”
Merrill’s return is the latest positive on the injury front for the Padres. They welcomed first baseman Luis Arraez and left fielder Jason Heyward back last Tuesday (and haven’t lost since). Backup outfielder Brandon Lockridge returned Friday, and Jake Cronenworth, who fractured his right rib on a hit-by-pitch on April 6, is slated to begin a short rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday night.
The plan is for Cronenworth to play second base on Tuesday, then DH on Wednesday before he’s re-evaluated on Thursday’s off-day. It’s a similar progression to Merrill’s -- two rehab starts, then a day off. Merrill’s day off came on Monday, as he arrived just before the Padres’ dramatic comeback win over the Yankees.
Now that Merrill is back, the plan is for him to play regularly, without off-days, though Shildt said the Padres would be smart about things. That’s the same reason Merrill landed on the IL in the first place.
“For me, I didn't want to wait at all,” Merrill said. “I would've played hurt all year if I could've. That was more their decision internally. But I appreciate the care they had for me.”
Through the numerous injuries, the Padres persevered. They stumbled at times but were rarely down for too long. They improved to 23-11 with Monday’s victory, trailing the Dodgers by half a game in the National League West.
“We have this roster depth, we have people that are capable of fulfilling different roles if called upon. Unfortunately, we’ve had to call upon it. But fortunately, guys have answered the bell,” Shildt said. “It’s further indication that we have good players. But also a complete indication that we play the game the right way which gives us the best chance to win.”