Jackson Merrill DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) has been traveling on Monday and is believed to have arrived in New York only a short while ago, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee. The plan is for Merrill to come off the 10-day injured list and play in the second game of the series in the Bronx against the Yankees on Tuesday. Brandon Lockridge will make the start in center field on Monday and will hit ninth against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon, who he has never faced. In addition to traveling on Monday, it's a rainy and wet day in New York, so the Padres aren't going to risk throwing Merrill back out there in those conditions. He's been out since early April with a strained right hamstring, but he's on the cusp on returning and should be thrown back in all starting fantasy lineups immediately. The 22-year-old was on fire before his injury, slashing .378/.415/.676 with a 1.090 OPS in 37 at-bats.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) will join Double-A San Antonio for what is expected to be a two-game rehab assignment on Saturday and Sunday. The 22-year-old is expected to rejoin the big league club on Monday against the Yankees, assuming he has no setbacks. The 2024 All-Star was off to a great start this season before the injury, hitting .378 with a 1.090 OPS, .462 wOBA, and a 200 wRC+ over 41 plate appearances, so fantasy managers who spent a lot of draft capital on the left-handed slugger will welcome him back with open arms. Tyler Wade has been filling in at center field and will cede playing time to Merrill once he returns.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) is "towards the finish line" of his rehab, according to manager Mike Shildt. Merrill has spent a couple days at the team's spring training complex in Arizona this week taking live at-bats, and it's unclear if he'll require a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 22-year-old landed on the IL on April 8 with a right-hamstring strain but is knocking on the door to return to the big-league roster, possibly by the end of the weekend series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates if he doesn't need a rehab assignment. If he doesn't rejoin the Padres this weekend, it could come next week in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Merrill was a first-time All-Star in his rookie season in 2024 and was squaring the ball up regularly before his injury in 10 games, going 14-for-37 with three homers and 10 RBI.