SEOUL, South Korea -- Jackson Merrill, a 20-year-old center fielder who had never played above Double-A, made his major league debut for San Diego in Wednesday's opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers after the Padres selected his contract from Double-A San Antonio.
Slotted ninth in the batting order, Merrill hit a 105.7 mph flyout to center field in the third inning off Tyler Glasnow in his first big league at-bat. He batted .351 (13-for-37) with three doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and two stolen bases in 13 spring training games.