Jackson Merrill Starts Strong; Ty France Pursues Josh Naylor in the Padres Race

Jackson Merrill has bounced back from a difficult injury-filled season. He missed a month early last year with a hamstring strain. Concussion and ankle issues also cost him time.

Baserunning revival

The 22-year-old center fielder returned to aggressive baserunning this week. He improved to 4-for-4 in steal attempts with a third-inning steal of second base on Tuesday. That stolen base helped set up Xander Bogaerts’ two-run single.

Merrill stole 16 bases in 19 attempts as a rookie. Last year he managed just one theft in three attempts. That lone steal came the day before his hamstring injury landed him on the injured list in April.

Impact on offense

Merrill also doubled in the eighth inning Tuesday. He aggressively advanced to third on Manny Machado’s fly to left. That move made it easier for Bogaerts to extend the lead to 4-1 with a follow-up single.

Manager Craig Stammen praised the strategy. He highlighted taking the extra 90 feet and using the running game as part of the offense. Stammen said Merrill has worked to improve that aspect of his play.

First-base matchup: France and Naylor

Ty France and Josh Naylor carried a longer history into Tuesday’s game. The Padres acquired Naylor in July 2016 while France was a corner infielder in the system. Four years later the two were teammates in the majors when France was later shipped to Seattle in a deal involving Austin Nola. Shortly after, Naylor was moved to the Guardians in the Mike Clevinger deal.

On Tuesday the pair spent the night taking hits away from one another. Both produced singles. France made a diving stop to his left in the fifth inning. That play was one of three hard-hit balls Naylor battled throughout the game.

Naylor also fielded a 105.2 mph comebacker off France’s bat. He turned that play into an unassisted double play on the line drive. France laughed about the back-and-forth and said he would catch up with Naylor later in the series.

On-field dynamics

Ty France pursued Josh Naylor in several key moments. The two veterans repeatedly neutralized each other’s chances. Their pairing highlighted how small plays can shape a game.

Leadoff spark: Ramón Laureano

Ramón Laureano has provided a spark at the top of the order. Entering Wednesday, he hit .273/.351/.576 in eight starts as the leadoff hitter. That line produced a .927 OPS.

Laureano started again atop the lineup for Game 2 against the Mariners. Stammen said the club wanted a leadoff option who can avoid long slumps. He praised Laureano’s ability against both lefties and righties. Stammen added that Laureano brings an edge the clubhouse appreciates, calling him the kind of player who fits the leadoff role.

Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor Merrill’s baserunning and the France–Naylor matchups as the Padres pursue consistency in the lineup.