NEW YORK -- San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill returned from the injured list Tuesday after being sidelined for a month because of a strained left hamstring.
Merrill batted fourth against the Yankees and played center field after joining the Padres on Monday. He was 2-for-4 with a double and scored the Padres' second run on a sacrifice fly by Jason Heyward, though San Diego would go on to lose 12-3.
Merrill returned after playing in a pair of injury rehabilitation games for Double-A San Antonio over the weekend.
"Jackson's a really, really special player that missed quite a bit, both on the field, off the field and we're excited to have him back," Padres manager Mike Shildt said.
Merrill was put on the injured list April 8, a week after he signed a $135 million, nine-year contract following a standout rookie season during which he was selected for the NL All-Star team and finished second to Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Before landing on the injured list, Merrill was hitting .378 (14-for-37) with three homers and 10 RBIs in eight games.
To make room for Merrill, catcher Luis Campusano was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. Campusano appeared in three games and was hitless in six at-bats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.