PADRES NEWS: JACKSON MERRILL MISSES PLAYING ALONGSIDE TRADED JAMES WOOD

In a classic tale of baseball's twists and turns, former Padres outfielder James Wood finally stepped onto the big league stage on Monday, donning the uniform of the Washington Nationals. Wood, who was part of the trade package that brought Juan Soto to San Diego in 2022, marked his debut with a solid 1-for-4 performance.

Reflecting on his friend's milestone, Jackson Merrill, now holding down the fort for the Padres, shared his bittersweet sentiments: "I wish I was still on the same team as him," Merrill mused to MLB.com's A.J. Cassavell. "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."

Merrill, known for his candor as much as his bat skills, couldn't help but wish Wood had debuted last week during the Padres' series against the Nationals. "It would've been great to face off, you know, like old times," Merrill remarked with a grin. "We'll have another shot in late July, though. It'll be like a friendly reunion with some healthy competition thrown in."

Both players have been making waves in their respective roles. Merrill, one of the youngest outfield starters this season, has been lighting up the scoreboard with a .294 average, 12 homers, and 42 RBIs. Meanwhile, Wood has been tearing it up in Triple-A, boasting a .353 average with 10 homers and 37 RBIs before his call-up.

As their careers continue to unfold, these former teammates turned rivals are set for a potential rematch later this month. It's a storyline worthy of the big screen—baseball, where friendships endure and rivalries ignite.

2024-07-03T18:50:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd