The Padres are still making history and it’s only April.
The team, with a 7-0 record to begin the season for the first time in their 57-season history – they beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 on Wednesday – also locked up a significant contributor to that scorching start.
Jackson Merrill hit a two-run homer a few hours after finalizing a $135 million, nine-year contract; he made his debut with the club last year.
The Friars’ previous best start was 4-0 in 1984, when they went to their first World Series.
Their hot start includes sweeping playoff teams from last year. Before taking three from the Guardians, the Padres swept a four-game series against the Braves in a rematch of their NL Division Series.
Merrill homered in his second straight game, driving the first pitch he saw from Ben Lively (0-1) onto the party deck atop the right field wall. He began his trot, tossed his bat and gestured with his right arm.
Absolute cinema ✨ pic.twitter.com/UDzupaugMG
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 2, 2025Merrill was an All-Star in 2024 and finished second to Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. He turns 22 on April 19.
“It’s a privilege to be with him the next several years. He’s joining a core group of players that are very special here. He fits right in,” manager Mike Shildt told MLB.com.
As for Merrill, he told MLB, “I’m super, super excited to keep going to work, keep going to battle every day.”
The Padres addressed the contract extension at a news conference before Wednesday’s game when they served up more of the same brand of baseball – including a steal of home – that has marked their stellar first week of 2025 play.
It was Fernando Tatis Jr. who did the honors, racing home on the back end of a double steal in the four-run third inning.
Tatis and Luis Arraez hit consecutive two-out singles. Arraez broke for second and drew a throw from catcher Bo Naylor. Arraez pulled up and second baseman Daniel Schneemann turned and threw home too late to catch Tatis.
Arraez advanced on Manny Machado’s single and scored on José Ramírez’s throwing error. Merrill then homered.
Arraez homered leading off the seventh, his first.
Dylan Cease (1-0), who held the Guardians to one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out seven and walked one.
Robert Suarez pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Tatis has five stolen bases in seven games. He had 11 last year, when he missed two months with a stress reaction in his right thigh bone.
The Padres, after a tremendously successful week at Petco Park, hit the road, going to Chicago and West Sacramento, where the Athletics are playing after their departure from Oakland. The Friars will send Randy Vásquez to the mound for Friday’s game; the Cubs will answer with Shota Imanaga.
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