Padres Reliever Morejon to Stay in Bullpen

Lefty will remain in relief role for 2026 season

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:51am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a relief pitcher's intense focus and fluid motion on the mound.San Diego Today

The San Diego Padres have decided to keep pitcher Adrian Morejon in a relief role for the 2026 season, according to manager Craig Stammen. Morejon has been a successful full-time reliever since 2024, posting a 2.42 ERA and 141:38 K:BB ratio over 137.1 innings. The Padres are also keeping Mason Miller in a relief role, so Morejon is unlikely to see many save opportunities unless Miller gets injured.

Why it matters

Morejon was considered a potential starter for the Padres, but the team has opted to keep him in the bullpen where he has thrived in recent seasons. This decision reflects the Padres' pitching depth and their confidence in Morejon's ability to contribute as a reliever.

The details

Padres manager Craig Stammen announced that Adrian Morejon will remain in the bullpen for the 2026 season. Morejon has past experience as a starter but has been a successful full-time reliever since 2024, posting a 2.42 ERA and 141:38 K:BB ratio over 137.1 innings. The Padres are also keeping Mason Miller in a relief role, so Morejon is unlikely to see many save opportunities barring an injury to Miller.

  • Morejon has been a full-time reliever since the start of the 2024 season.

The players

Adrian Morejon

A left-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who has found success as a full-time reliever in recent seasons.

Craig Stammen

The manager of the San Diego Padres who announced that Morejon will remain in the bullpen for the 2026 season.

Mason Miller

A relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres who will also remain in a relief role, limiting Morejon's save opportunities.

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What they’re saying

“Morejon will remain in the bullpen next season”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

The takeaway

The Padres' decision to keep Morejon in the bullpen reflects their confidence in his ability to contribute as a reliever and their pitching depth, which allows them to keep both Morejon and Mason Miller in relief roles for the 2026 season.