Home » Sports » MLB » San Diego Padres

Why Jackson Merrill’s 25-25 season went unnoticed, and why Padres’ star will make sure it doesn’t happen again

Jackson Merrill was one of just six players to hit 25 homers and steal 25 bases in 2026, yet it feels like no one recognized him for the achievement. Why?

By Brandon Glick · Friars on Base

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 1:53 PM

Key Things to Know

Brandon Glick argues Jackson Merrill's 26-homer, 27-steal season went largely unnoticed due to a prolonged first-half slump.
Merrill posted an underwhelming .628 OPS before the All-Star break, dragging down his full-season numbers.
In the second half, the Padres center fielder surged, batting .304 with 16 home runs and eight stolen bases.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Brandon Glick argues that San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill's 26-home run, 27-stolen base campaign went unnoticed because of a severe first-half slump. While Merrill joined teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. in reaching the 25-25 mark during the 2026 season, Glick explains that Merrill's pre-All-Star break struggles dragged down his overall statistics.

Merrill posted a .628 OPS in the first half before rebounding with a .304 batting average, 16 home runs, and eight steals after the break. Glick contends that now healthy, Merrill is poised for a faster start in 2027.

Read the full article on Friars on Base