Padres pitcher Walker Buehler takes step in comeback, Morejón dominates in debut

Buehler reaches 92 mph in first game action, while Morejón impresses in 1-2-3 inning against KBO team

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:15am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Padres pitcher Walker Buehler, who is competing for a rotation spot, took a significant step forward in his comeback from Tommy John surgery by facing the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. Buehler reached 92 mph with his fastball and had both good and bad moments in his outing. Meanwhile, reliever Adrian Morejón followed Buehler and dominated the Dinos in a 1-2-3 inning, as he eases into spring training after a heavy workload in 2025.

Why it matters

Buehler's performance is crucial as the Padres look to solidify their starting rotation, while Morejón's strong showing is a positive sign for the team's bullpen depth heading into the 2026 season.

The details

Buehler, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, has had two Tommy John surgeries and is no longer able to consistently reach the upper 90s with his fastball. The Padres, who signed him to a minor-league deal earlier this month, believe they can get him throwing harder than his 94 mph average from last season. In his outing against the Dinos, Buehler reached 92 mph and mixed in a lot of sliders and curveballs, which the Padres believe will be key to his success if he makes their rotation. Morejón, a left-handed reliever, followed Buehler and dominated the Dinos in a 1-2-3 inning, taking just 11 pitches.

  • On Saturday, Buehler faced another team for the first time with the Padres.

The players

Walker Buehler

A 31-year-old right-handed pitcher who is competing for a rotation spot with the Padres after signing a minor-league deal with the team earlier this month. Buehler is a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion who has had two Tommy John surgeries.

Adrian Morejón

A left-handed reliever for the Padres who pitched 73⅔ innings in 75 games, both career highs, in 2025.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The first inning was a little rough. A bunch of singles, but throwing strikes. I think the velocity was a little bit above where we thought it would be. Overall, a lot of good, a lot of bad, lots of stuff to figure out. … Only so much you're gonna get out of it today. But all in all a good day.”

— Walker Buehler

“Morejón took on a big load last year. … Him and I had the discussions (that) we're going slow play just a little bit going into camp.”

— Ruben Niebla, Padres Pitching Coach

The takeaway

Buehler's performance and Morejón's dominance provide encouraging signs for the Padres' pitching staff as they look to build depth and solidify their rotation and bullpen ahead of the 2026 season.