Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Morgan will remain in a relief role in 2026, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Consideration was given to stretching Morgan out to be an option for the Padres' rotation, but the club has ultimately decided to keep him in the bullpen. Morgan held a 2.66 ERA and 50:23 K:BB over 47.1 regular-season innings for the Padres in 2025 and is pegged for a middle relief role in 2026.

The Padres are considering moving Morgan into their rotation next season, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon are the more high-profile names being mulled for a shift from the bullpen to the rotation, but Morgan is also under consideration. A former infielder and undrafted free agent who didn't begin pitching until 2022, Morgan posted a 2.66 ERA and 50:23 K:BB over 47.1 regular-season innings for the Padres in 2025. The 26-year-old had two opener assignments for the Padres, but the last time he made a traditional start came in 2022 at Hope International, an NAIA school.

The Padres activated Morgan (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Morgan missed the last two weeks of action with right shoulder inflammation, but he's been cleared to rejoin the Padres' bullpen. The righty has posted a 2.80 ERA and 47:19 K:BB across 45 innings this season for the Friars.

The Padres placed Morgan on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 9, due to right shoulder inflammation.

EDGE Analysis

Morgan has been a reliable arm for the Padres out of the bullpen this season, posting a 2.80 ERA across 45 innings. The 25-year-old rookie will head to the injured list Friday, and he'll be eligible to return Sept. 24, two days before the Padres' final regular-season game. Per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Morgan intends to return once eligible, and his placement on the IL was precautionary. JP Sears was recalled from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.

Morgan is slated to start Sunday's game against Minnesota, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

This will be Morgan's second start of the season -- in his first appearance as an opener, he gave up one run over 1.1 frames against Texas on July 6. The right-hander hasn't tossed more than two innings in any outing this season, so that will probably be his cap Sunday as well. Kyle Hart is expected to be called up from Triple-A El Paso to work in bulk relief behind Morgan.

Morgan will serve as the Padres' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Rangers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morgan will be making the first start of his professional career, as he's worked exclusively in relief since signing with the Padres as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The 25-year-old is available on five days' rest and has covered two innings in both of his last two relief appearances, but the Padres aren't likely to push his workload too far beyond that level Sunday before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Morgan retired both batters he faced in Monday's victory versus Miami.

EDGE Analysis

Morgan was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday and made his major-league debut one day later. The 25-year-old right-hander entered in the eighth inning and needed just six pitches (four of which were strikes) to retire the two batters he faced. Morgan has posted a 6.91 ERA while allowing five homers over 14.1 frames across two minor-league levels this season, but his impressive 30:2 K:BB is likely what led to San Diego's decision to bring him up, at least temporarily, to provide some support for the big club's bullpen.

The Padres recalled Morgan from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander will fill the roster spot vacated by Michael King (shoulder), who was placed on the injured list Sunday. Morgan spent a week in the majors in late April and early May but has yet to make his MLB debut.

The Padres optioned Morgan to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

He'll head back to the minors to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Stephen Kolek, who was recalled from Triple-A ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Pirates. Morgan didn't get the chance to make his MLB debut out of the San Diego bullpen after receiving his first big-league call-up from Double-A San Antonio last Sunday.