The San Diego Padres have found a short-term solution in center field while Jackson Merrill recovers from injury.
With both Merrill and his fill-in, Brandon Lockridge, sidelined due to hamstring issues, the team has brought back a familiar face—outfielder Bryce Johnson. San Diego reacquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with cash considerations, in exchange for catcher Brett Sullivan.
The Padres confirmed the trade on April 16, 2025.
Johnson, 29, played 47 games for San Diego last season, hitting .206 with four RBIs and seven walks. While he mostly played right field, he has experience in center, with 36 career games and 164 innings at that position.
Originally drafted by the Giants in 2017, Johnson debuted in the majors in 2022. Across 88 games with the Giants and Padres, he owns a career batting average of .177 and a .474 OPS. Despite a slow start this year in Triple-A—batting just .080—San Diego is banking on his familiarity and defensive versatility with Merrill expected to miss more time.
Sullivan, 31, had limited opportunities in San Diego due to depth at catcher, including Elias Diaz, Martin Maldonado, and Luis Campusano. Over 40 games in the big leagues, Sullivan batted .206 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
He now heads to Pittsburgh, where he could quickly see playing time due to multiple injuries in their catching lineup. Endy Rodriguez was just placed on the IL with a finger laceration, and Joey Bart is also likely headed to the IL with back issues.
In the meantime, the Padres have relied on Tyler Wade and Jason Heyward in center field. With Johnson joining the mix, the team gains another option—pending his addition to the 40-man roster.
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