March 26, 2025
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Jackson Merrill has impressed Padres 'from the very beginning'

Spring training update: Jackson Merrill homers; Manny Machado stays hot as Padres tie D-backs

Batter’s box: Jackson Merrill hit his fourth home run of the spring. … Xander Bogaerts, Jason Heyward and Manny Machado all hit their second doubles. … Machado has four hits in his past eight at-bats. … Fernando Tatis Jr. was 2-for-3. … Luis Arraez was 0-for-1 but drew his first two walks of the spring. He is batting .357 (15-for-42).

Balls and strikes: Logan Gillaspie might have made a winning push for the final bullpen spot with four strong innings at the start of the game. He spread out five hits and allowed one run on a homer. … Ron Marinaccio, who started spring strong, allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in his 1⅔ innings. That stumble may have also helped Gillaspie. … Left-handers Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta pitched for a second consecutive day for the first time this spring. Matsui faced two batters and allowed a single, but he got two outs with help from an excellent defensive play. He then intentionally walked a batter to create a situation wherein Peralta could come in with a runner on. Peralta retired the one batter he faced to end the inning. … Lefty Adrián Morejón worked around a double and a bloop single for a scoreless inning. He pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed three runs in another outing this spring.

Padres notes: Jackson Merrill again the NL rookie of the month, Lake Bachar  landing with Marlins – San Diego Union-Tribune

Extra bases: The Padres’ regulars are scheduled to start and get one plate appearance in Monday’s spring training finale. … Center fielder Brandon Lockridge ran down a Junior Franco single in the gap and threw across his body to second base, where Franco was tagged out. … Catcher Elias Díaz threw out one runner trying to steal second with help from a fantastic catch and tag by Bogaerts. Díaz would have caught another runner had Tyler Wade not dropped the ball trying to make the tag.

On deck: Stephen Kolek, who is vying for one of the final two rotation spots, will start against the Mariners, 12:10 p.m. in Peoria, Ariz.

Batter’s box: Jackson Merrill hit his fourth home run of the spring. … Xander Bogaerts, Jason Heyward and Manny Machado all hit their second doubles. … Machado has four hits in his past eight at-bats. … Fernando Tatis Jr. was 2-for-3. … Luis Arraez was 0-for-1 but drew his first two walks of the spring. He is batting .357 (15-for-42).

Balls and strikes: Logan Gillaspie might have made a winning push for the final bullpen spot with four strong innings at the start of the game. He spread out five hits and allowed one run on a homer. … Ron Marinaccio, who started spring strong, allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in his 1⅔ innings. That stumble may have also helped Gillaspie. … Left-handers Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta pitched for a second consecutive day for the first time this spring. Matsui faced two batters and allowed a single, but he got two outs with help from an excellent defensive play. He then intentionally walked a batter to create a situation wherein Peralta could come in with a runner on. Peralta retired the one batter he faced to end the inning. … Lefty Adrián Morejón worked around a double and a bloop single for a scoreless inning. He pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed three runs in another outing this spring.

Jackson Merrill talks All Star experience

Extra bases: The Padres’ regulars are scheduled to start and get one plate appearance in Monday’s spring training finale. … Center fielder Brandon Lockridge ran down a Junior Franco single in the gap and threw across his body to second base, where Franco was tagged out. … Catcher Elias Díaz threw out one runner trying to steal second with help from a fantastic catch and tag by Bogaerts. Díaz would have caught another runner had Tyler Wade not dropped the ball trying to make the tag.

On deck: Stephen Kolek, who is vying for one of the final two rotation spots, will start against the Mariners, 12:10 p.m. in Peoria, Ariz.

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