Merrill hits homer 'right to his momma' in big weekend

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

It was quite a weekend for the Merrill family.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time the family has visited Fenway Park together. Jackson Merrill’s father, Josh, was a diehard Red Sox fan, who made the pilgrimage from Maryland to Boston with his son several times. Naturally, Jackson became a childhood Red Sox fan, too (with Xander Bogaerts counted among his favorite players).

“Jogging out there to center the first inning was a little surreal,” Merrill said.

After his home run on Friday, Merrill, who typically deflects personal achievements, called it “the dopest moment of my baseball career.”

Even more dope? He hit that home run almost directly to his mother, Jennie, who was seated in center field at the time. Those weren’t Jennie Merrill’s assigned seats. But she had friends at the game and decided to venture to center field to chat with them for an inning or two.

As it would happen, that’s precisely when Merrill capped the Padres’ nine-run fifth inning with a three-run blast. It landed about 15 feet above where Jennie was sitting.

“Hit it right to his momma!” Jennie Merrill tweeted, with a screengrab of her standing under the baseball.

A day later, Jennie spoke with Bob Scanlan of Padres TV.

“When he hit that, I thought: ‘This is a full-circle moment right here,’” Jennie said. “Because, for him to hit the Green Monster in Fenway, [it’s] his childhood dream. … It’s been a remarkable experience this week. And I am so glad we’re here for it.”

Jackson would finish 7-for-14 with two doubles and two homers in the ballpark he grew up dreaming of playing in. More importantly, the Padres took two of three.

A special return for Musgrove

This week will mark the second trip to Globe Life Field for Joe Musgrove -- who is on the road with the Padres as he builds up toward a return from the injured list. The first? You probably remember it: He authored the first no-hitter in franchise history.

"I'm excited to get to sit back and reflect on it a little bit," Musgrove said. “I haven't really sat and thought about the entirety of the situation since it happened."

It was a strange day, Musgrove recalls. He had never been to the ballpark before -- meaning he wasn't familiar with the bullpens, the weight room, the cafeteria, etc.

"I was flustered, everything was in a flurry that day, I remember being later than I wanted to be," Musgrove said.

He added: "It was my second start for my hometown team, and my first one was good. You don't want it to be a fluke."

Clearly, it was no fluke. The rest of that day has a special place in Padres lore -- the hometown kid pitching the team’s first no-hitter. Of course, afterward, Musgrove couldn't celebrate much with COVID restrictions still in place.

"But I had so many phone calls and things to take care of, that I didn't feel like I wanted to go out,” Musgrove said. “I'd rather just stay in and talk to my family. But yeah, I stayed up 'til like 5 in the morning. ... I think I just sat in my room, [and] watched my ESPN highlights all night."

Johnson switches it up

I wouldn't call Bryce Johnson the Padres' everyday right fielder. But he's started there every day since his callup last Monday, after Fernando Tatis Jr. was placed on the IL.

That's a product of a couple things: The Padres’ first three games were against left-handers, keeping David Peralta on the bench. The next three were in Fenway Park's spacious right field, which San Diego essentially treated like a second center field. Johnson's elite range was a perfect fit.

Johnson is a switch-hitter, meaning the Padres can use him whenever they see fit. Which is a useful tool -- especially considering Johnson didn't start hitting lefty until his sophomore year in college.

He's told the story before, but I needed to hear it for myself. Johnson was essentially messing around, batting left-handed when Matt Deggs, his college coach at Sam Houston, took note -- and told Johnson to keep doing it.

"I was never going to do it," Johnson said. "He talked me into it."

Johnson said it took him "almost a whole season" to feel comfortable hitting lefty. I pointed out that, actually, that seemed pretty quick. This season, Johnson's splits have skewed heavily in favor of those lefty at-bats. It's given Johnson an immensely valuable skill set, as a switch-hitting center fielder.

"All the credit goes to him," Johnson said of Deggs. "I don't know if I'm standing here otherwise."

Merrill thrilled for Wood

Merrill and James Wood were selected with the first two picks of the Padres’ 2021 Draft. As of Monday, they’ll both be big leaguers. Wood, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 overall prospect, is slated to be called up by the Nationals -- who were swept in San Diego last week.

“I just wish he got called up last week, because we would’ve seen him,” Merrill said.

Wood and Merrill have been close for years. They grew up in Maryland and played on the same 14-and-under team. They were roommates in the Minors. Then, Wood was traded to Washington in the Juan Soto deal.

“I wish I was still on the same team as him,” Merrill said. “But [stuff] happens, and maybe it might be better for both of our careers. But I’m super pumped for him. … I hope he goes and dominates.”