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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King says he's inspired by the energy and mental fortitude of Jackson Merrill in his first major league season. King feels Merrill's impressive attitude has been a major factor in building a strong bond within the team.
Jackson Merrill made his MLB debut for the Padres in their season opener in March and has remained a fixture in the lineup since then. The 21-year-old earned his first All-Star call-up and is the favorite for the National League Rookie of the Year. He's batting .290/.322/.483 with an OPS of .805 and has 20 doubles, six triples and 17 home runs.
On Monday night, the San Diego Padres beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 in the opening clash of their three-game series at Petco Park. Michael King started on the mound for the home team and was credited with the win, aided by a three-run double from Jackson Merrill in the third inning.
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"Everything he does is baseball," King said. 'It's not like he has a family to go home to and kids that he goes and talks to. He gets to the field, and he is happy to be here and talks about how we're all his best friends, and we're just having fun."
"Now me, sitting here, having a bad outing—I look at Jackson, and I'm like, that's the mentality I need to have. It's just his contagious mentality. We go out, and we're playing a kid's game. We're loving each other, and it's a lot easier when you're playing for your brothers," he added.
Michael King had a tough start on Monday, giving up two earned runs from three hits and two walks in the first two frames, but the Padres leveled the game by the end of the second inning. Jackson Merrill came up with the crucial double to put the home team into a three-run lead.
Jackson Merrill continues to build his case for NL Rookie of the Year
Merrill is a leading contender for the NL Rookie of the Year. The Padres centerfielder has been solid from the start of the season, although his bid to win the award has gained serious traction over the past couple months.
Merrill held a .280 batting average at the end of May, but his OPS was below .700 while he only had eight extra-base hits and three home runs at that point. However, he has batted .298 with an OPS of .904 since June 1, while he has also recorded 35 extra-base hits, including 14 home runs.
