Jackson Merrill Powers San Diego Padres Following Monster 2026 Second-Half Surge

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill orchestrated a dramatic second-half turnaround in 2026, overcoming an early slump where he hit just .214 through 95 games. From July 19 onward, Merrill slashed .316/.351/.590 with a 156 wRC+ over 263 plate appearances. He finished the season with a .254/.303/.440 slash line, 26 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and 4.2 fWAR in 158 games, driven by a September bat speed jump to 74.2 mph.