Morejon earned the save in Saturday's 1-0 win over Atlanta, issuing one walk while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old southpaw came in to finish out Saturday's game, as usual closer Robert Suarez had been deployed in each of the first two games of the series. Morejon was able to pitch around a leadoff walk and finished things off by punching out Drake Baldwin. Morejon logged two saves last season, but he could see more opportunities in 2025 on days when Suarez is resting.

Morejon will enter spring training as a reliever, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Padres are in need of a fifth starter with Joe Musgrove expected to miss all or most of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. Morejon has some experience starting in the majors and made some sense as a candidate for the open rotation spot, but Padres manager Mike Shildt said Saturday that the southpaw "has found a really nice niche in the bullpen" and is expected to continue in that role. Morejon enjoyed his best big-league campaign in 2024, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 71:21 K:BB while notching two saves and 12 holds over 63.2 innings spanning 60 relief appearances.

The Padres and Morejon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morejon was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander was excellent out of the San Diego bullpen in 2024, putting up a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 regular-season innings. However, the club is thinking about stretching him out this spring as a candidate to join its rotation.

The Padres could move Morejon into the rotation next season. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Padres currently have only three starters locked into their 2025 rotation in Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish, and they're entertaining trade offers on Cease. Morejon thrived out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 innings. However, he has past starting experience and throws five pitches, so stretching him out would make sense. What role the Padres ultimately decide on for Morejon could depend largely on what moves president of baseball operations A.J. Preller makes this winter.

Morejon allowed an unearned run over one inning without giving up a hit or a walk, earning the save in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Regular closer Robert Suarez worked the ninth inning and took a blown save, but the Padres were able to gain the lead in the 10th. Morejon then closed things out, earning his second career save, both of which have come over his last 15 appearances. In that span, he's allowed seven runs (six earned) across 13.2 innings. The southpaw is at a 3.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:20 K:BB with 10 holds through 60 innings this year, emerging as an option for high-leverage work in a talented Padres bullpen.

Morejon earned a save against the Pirates on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

EDGE Analysis

Robert Suarez has worked as the Padres' closer this season, but he was deployed in the ninth inning with the score tied Wednesday. The contest ended up going to an extra frame, and San Diego took the lead with a three-run top of the 10th. Recently acquired Tanner Scott was asked to preserve the lead in the bottom of the frame, but he walked three straight batters to force in a run before Morejon was called upon to clean up the mess. The southpaw's outing didn't begin well -- his first offering was a wild pitch that allowed another Pirate to cross the plate to make the score 9-8 -- but Morejon rebounded impressively, retiring the next three batters without allowing the tying run to score. As a reward, he earned his first career save in his 90th MLB appearance. Morejon has been a solid bullpen piece for the Padres this season, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB through 47.1 innings.

Morejon picked up a hold against Baltimore on Friday despite allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Morejon had been effective coming into Friday, tossing seven straight scoreless outings and posting a 2.18 ERA on the campaign. That number shot up to 2.57 after the rough appearance against Baltimore, during which the southpaw allowed a solo homer and a double among the three hits he surrendered. Morejon was nonetheless credited with a hold, which has become fairly commonplace for him of late. After not picking up a hold in any of his first 14 appearances this season, Morejon has recorded eight across his past 20 outings.

The Padres recalled Morejon from Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Morejon pitched two-thirds of an inning during San Diego's series in South Korea but was optioned to Triple-A ahead of its domestic opener. He's given up two runs across 6.1 minor-league frames and will now return to the Padres to provide additional bullpen depth. Pedro Avila was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Padres optioned Morejon to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morejon was on the roster for the team's two games in South Korea against the Dodgers but didn't make the cut for the Padres' domestic opener. He'll work in relief at El Paso.

Morejon signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

EDGE Analysis

Elbow and knee injuries limited Morejon to just eight big-league appearances last season. The 24-year-old southpaw surrendered seven earned runs over nine innings when healthy and will likely return to a middle relief role to begin 2024.