Padres injury update: Jackson Merrill, Brandon Lockridge, Jake Cronenworth returns are almost here

Are we nearing the end of this nightmare? The pile of injuries that has infected the San Diego Padres in the first month of the season could have been devastating, but the club has managed to keep their head above water.

With major absences in Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, and Yu Darvish still ongoing, we may be reaching the finish line with most of them. As Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune has reported, Merrill could return as soon as this coming Monday, and Cronenworth may be back on the field in a week or so.

San Diego Padres' injured players are slated to return to action soon

Merrill, who was out with a hamstring injury, could be back for the Friars' big three-game series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. The star outfielder is rehabbing in Arizona at the organization's complex alongside Brandon Lockridge, who also is healing from a hamstring problem.

Merrill's return for this specific series would be huge. This could be one of the marquee inter-league series this season, especially if Merrill is in the lineup. He hasn't played since April 6 and landed on the injured list with 10 RBIs and five extra-base hits in 10 games.

Cronenworth has not played since April 9 and had an .895 OPS through his first dozen games before a rib fracture sidelined him. A possible return for him could be in Colorado when the Padres face the Rockies for a three-game weekend series.

As for Darvish, who has not pitched at all this regular season, he has reportedly tossed two bullpen sessions, and is hopefully facing live batters this upcoming weekend. In an ideal world, the right-handed ace is back in the Friars' starting rotation before June 1.

Players like Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward have made their way back to full health, showing signs of promise that the Padres are not just going to limp their way through the 2025 season. It was a troublesome trend that San Diego was headed in, but Merrill and Cronenworth can return at some point next week, there will be some hope that everyone can remain healthy as summer approaches.