Padres’ Jackson Merrill opens up about what sparked turnaround

Center fielder Jackson Merrill entered September 14’s game in Colorado with 12 hits in his previous six games, including three home runs amid the San Diego Padres’ pursuit of a National League Wild Card spot.

Merrill shouldered plenty of blame for the Padres’ struggles earlier this summer but is now back on track in large part due to his changed perspective at the plate. He spoke to MLB Network prior to the Rockies series, during which he revealed a change to his approach that sparked his turnaround.

“Sorta around the All-Star Break I just kinda watched some high school video and everything changes a little bit over time but, I think I try to go back to that, just playing free baseball, loose baseball and trying to do damage every time I swing,” Merrill said.

He has simplified his approach in search of more impact as a hitter, and it’s worked out well for him lately. He added that he mostly avoids looking at technology designed to help him improve his swing in favor of a less complicated approach.

“All in all, baseball was never created with that (technology), so I just like to kinda go out there and play a free game,” Merrill said, adding that his favorite part of baseball is robbing opposing players of potential home runs in center field.

The Padres were red hot entering September 14’s four-game series opener with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, having won seven consecutive games. Merrill’s team is currently holding onto a slim lead for the National League’s final Wild Card spot and is expected to get bullpen help back soon from Jason Adam. Adam hasn’t pitched since April 10 and didn’t give up an earned run in the final four appearances before his injury.

His teammate Merrill’s defense and hitting are also expected to be big factors going forward, and it all started with a more simplistic approach that is clearly paying big dividends headed toward MLB’s second season.