When it comes to players looking to bounce back, there are levels to it. Some had bad seasons are are looking to make an improvement, some are returning from injuries, and some are Jackson Merrill.
Merrill had such an exceptional rookie season in 2024 that his efforts in 2025 were viewed as suboptimal despite producing a 112 OPS+ and 2.7 bWAR. This now puts him in line for a "bounce back" season, even though he was great for the Padres in 2025.
Padres' Jackson Merrill is a prime "bounce back" candidate for 2026
Merrill hit .