PHILADELPHIA — The catch was so good, third-base umpire Bill Miller had to ask Jackson Merrill for proof.
In the third inning of the Padres’ series-opening 4-0 loss to the Phillies on Monday night, Merrill went airborne to rob Max Kepler of what looked like a certain three-run home run. Merrill ranged toward the wall in straightaway center field at Citizens Bank Park, then leapt. After getting serious air and reaching well above the fence, Merrill came down with the baseball.
“I timed it up right,” Merrill said. “I saw it going up in the air. Just wanted to be smooth, get back, give myself a chance.”
It’s an instant contender for the Padres’ play of the season, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best catches in the Majors this season. Kepler’s ball traveled a Statcast-projected 408 feet, with a hang time of 5.7 seconds. Merrill’s starting position was 331 feet from home plate, then he covered 78 feet to get to the wall for the stunning grab.
And Merrill hardly reacted. His teammates around him erupted. But Merrill merely closed his glove and trotted into the visitors’ dugout. He didn’t show the baseball until Miller asked him to see it, while Merrill passed him on his way to the dugout. Merrill obliged. Out confirmed.
Later, Merrill apologized to Kepler for not showing the ball after the catch. He said he wasn’t trying to hide it. But he was scheduled to bat first in the next inning, and he had one thing on his mind.
“How am I going to hit [Zack] Wheeler’s fastball?” Merrill said, before expressing frustration at his ensuing flyout.
Merrill has been in a bit of a funk at the plate. But his defense in center field has remained steady. So steady, in fact, that it’s easy to forget Merrill only learned the position about 16 months ago. A lifelong infielder, Merrill made the transition to center field during Spring Training in 2024. He’s been mostly excellent since.
“I had to remind myself he hadn’t been an outfielder,” manager Mike Shildt said. “… He’s just a baller, and it is pretty amazing to be able to do that. Just a natural baseball player.”
Still, as with most new outfielders, wall balls were some of the toughest for Merrill at first. He said he spent time watching film of other center fielders around the Majors — namely Atlanta’s Michael Harris II. Merrill took note of the smoothness with which they tracked the ball at the warning track and he has made a point not to accelerate too much around the wall.
And he now has a signature home-run robbery to show for it.
“I didn’t know he had it until he ran in for another 150 feet,” said starter Matt Waldron, who was on the mound at the time. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Unbelievable, man. He doesn’t take a pitch off.”
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