This season, Merrill has weathered the challenges of two major injuries. Crow-Armstrong’s magic in center field has translated well to the big leagues. Drafted as a shortstop, Merrill didn’t learn center field until he entered the big leagues in 2024. And in part because of his faith in Merrill, Padres GM A.J. “This is a good team we’re going to face with really good pitching, a dangerous lineup and a ballpark that’s very unpredictable,” he said.