Padres Place All-Star Jackson Merrill on 7-Day Concussion IL

The San Diego Padres have placed All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill on the seven-day injured list due to a concussion sustained during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he was tagged in the head while attempting to steal second base. Merrill, who is batting .304 with five home runs this season, had to leave the game and is now undergoing concussion protocol, with no definite timeline for his full recovery. To fill the roster spot, the Padres called up Trenton Brooks from Triple-A El Paso, while Brandon Lockridge is expected to get increased playing time in center field. Merrill has been a key performer for the Padres this season, boasting strong offensive metrics and defensive contributions, and his absence poses a challenge for the team. Despite the setback, the Padres are relying on veteran players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to maintain their competitive edge during Merrill's recovery. Merrill had also recently returned from a hamstring injury and was showing significant improvement before this latest injury.