Jackson Merrill hits another decisive home run and gives the Padres a walk-off win

Jackson Merrill just keeps hitting crucial home runs.

On Sunday, the rookie stepped up to bat in the second half of the ninth inning of a tied game and promptly tied the game.

The Padres trailed for most of their game against the New York Mets on Sunday. After Jurickson Profar hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2, San Diego had a chance to win the game in the ninth inning. Edwin Diaz came in for the Mets and opened the period by throwing out Jake Cronenworth. Then Merrill entered the box.

Diaz fell behind 2-0 when two fastballs missed their target. Then he threw a slider to the rookie, and Merrill didn’t miss, hitting a 379-foot home run to right. The ball left his bat at 104.4 mph. It was crushed, and Merrill knew it as soon as it left his bat.

Merrill is not only good, he is a difference-maker. With this home run, Merrill has hit six tying or leading home runs in the eighth inning or later this season. No other player in Major League Baseball has more. And he is only 21 years old.

That was Merrill’s 19th home run of the season, making him the most among any rookies in MLB. He also leads in RBIs (72) and hits (130), and among players who have played at least 100 games, he leads in batting average (.288), second in slugging (.488), and second in OPS (.807). He also leads in fWAR (3.7).

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny that Merrill looks like the National League’s Rookie of the Year, despite Paul Skenes’ great debut.