Pirates fans are loving Jackson Merrill completely unraveling with Padres in 2026

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill has never done anything wrong to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Pirates fans can't stand him — and you can thank Padres fans for that.

Following Paul Skenes' rightful National League Rookie of the Year coronation in 2024, Padres fans revolted for weeks in protest of Skenes' victory, pointing to Merrill as the more deserving rook. And, well, history hasn't been kind to Padres fans in that regard.

While Merrill regressed in his second season, Skenes only improved, winning the NL Cy Young in 2025. Year 3 for both players has only continued this trend. Skenes hasn't been quite as immortal this season, but Merrill has been downright bad, and Pirates fans are loving every moment of it.

The above numbers from Merrill have gotten even worse since a couple of days ago. He's slashing .200/.271/.318 on the season with 55 strikeouts. He's 4-for-22 (.182) in his last seven games and a dreadful 6-for-52 (.115) in his last 15.

Merrill's ability to slug has also disappeared. He hit a combined 40 home runs over his first two seasons but has only hit four so far in a season that is already more than one-third complete. He has hit just one homer in his last 30 games.

Padres' Jackson Merrill extension doesn't look so victorious anymore

Padres fans were haughtily looking down at Pirates fans in April of last year when San Diego signed Merrill to a nine-year extension: We extend our young stars ... why can't you?

That teasing doesn't hold up these days, with Merrill looking far from a star, and with a certain segment of Padres fans already having difficult/awkward conversations about Merrill's extension.

Meanwhile, the Pirates signed their latest young stud, Konnor Griffin, to a nine-year extension of his own this season (Pittsburgh has obviously learned its lesson from failing to extend Skenes). Griffin has shown his youth at times in 2026, but he's still hitting a very respectable .262, all while Merrill continues to suffer through painful strikeouts and plunge further into the darkness of a season-long slump.

Padres fans still have their club's superior record (31-22) to lord over the 28-26 Pirates, but don't expect Pirates fans to stop chirping and giggling about Merrill's decline anytime soon. They won't soon forget that Padres fans were bold (and foolish) enough to equate Merrill with one of the best young pitching talents the game has ever seen.

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