Padres’ Merrill to IL with Hamstring ‍Strain; Tatis ⁢Jr. Exits Early

SAN DIEGO – the San Diego Padres placed outfielder⁢ Jackson Merrill on the 10-day injured ⁣list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced Monday. The move ‍came shortly before the Padres suffered a meaningful loss to the Oakland Athletics.

To fill Merrill’s spot on the roster, the Padres recalled outfielder oscar Gonzalez⁢ from Triple-A el⁣ Paso.

Merrill’s Injury: Initial Optimism

Merrill’s injury occurred during Monday’s ⁣game against the Athletics, which the Padres lost 10-4. Despite the ⁢setback, Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed cautious optimism regarding the severity of‍ Merrill’s hamstring issue.

“The good news is that at‍ present,‍ it does not seem to be very serious,”

Mike Shildt, Padres Manager

the‍ placement on the 10-day injured list is retroactive ⁢to April 7.

Merrill, in his first full MLB season, has been a bright spot for the ⁣Padres, batting .378 with three home runs and 10‍ RBIs. His performance⁣ follows a strong 2024 season where he hit 24 home runs, drove in 90 ⁣runs, and maintained a .292 batting average. The⁤ Padres⁤ signed Merrill to a 9-year, ⁣$135 ‍million contract⁣ extension.

Tatis ‍Jr. and Cronenworth Also Suffer Ailments

Adding ⁤to the Padres’ concerns, Fernando Tatis Jr. left Monday’s‍ game early with what⁤ Shildt ⁤described as slight shoulder⁤ discomfort.⁤ Jack Cronenworth also exited ⁤the game due to cramps, which⁤ Shildt attributed to a previous hit-by-pitch⁤ incident against the Chicago Cubs.

The Padres have ‍not yet announced the ⁤severity of Tatis Jr.’s or Cronenworth’s conditions.

The Padres, who are competing in the National League West, face uncertainty as they navigate ⁢a series of injuries to key players.

Photo credit:‍ © Denis poroy-Imagn Images