San Diego Padres center fielderJackson Merrill earned himself an additional $5 million with his 500th plate appearance on Friday.The 2026 milestone kicked in a clause in Merrill's contract that adds an $1 million to his salary for five years, increasing the total value of his contract from $135 million to a minimum of $140 million. Merrill signed a nine-year extension with the Padres early in 2025 after just one year in the majors, finishing runner-up in the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year voting, also finishing ninth in MVP voting as a 21-year-old. Now 23, Merrill has come alive after a disappointing first half, batting .333 with a 1.014 OPS in 27 games since the All-Star break. He hit nine home runs in that stretch after 10 in his first 93 games of the season.Nightengale's Notebook: Latest MLB rumorsThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Padres player earns $5 million with his 500th plate appearance