Padres Staying Flexible For Now on Adrian Morejon's Role

The veteran pitcher's fate all falls on his success.

One of the most intriguing players that San Diego will be experimenting with this season goes by the name of Adrian Morejon. The young relief pitcher has been plagued with the injury bug ever since hitting the Major League in 2019 and most notably had to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Despite all of the hardships he's had to endure, Morejon's number one goal still is to be a starter for the squad this year. In a limited role last season dealing with shoulder issues, he was solid as he posted a 4.24 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. 

Team manager Bob Melvin spoke to Sammy Levitt, a host on the Padres radio network, and asked if he believes Morejon could eventually find himself out of the bullpen after some time.

I asked Bob Melvin about Adrian Morejon earlier today and the potential of him being used as a starter if needed this season: pic.twitter.com/ZkoqfbdbnD

— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) February 18, 2023

"There were some absolutely electric games and there were some games he got humbled a bit. Ultimately, he wants to start and that's what he's done," said Melvin. "But with his innings in the last several years, it's difficult to say we've got 140 innings for you. It's wherever we need him and he's going to have to accumulate, at least early on, to a bullpen role."

If he does want to claim a starting role, the 23-year-old will have to perform well from the jump. If there's one thing this Padres team added over the offseason, it is depth and Morejon has some names in front of him at the moment.

San Diego now has a set six-man rotation, one they had been pining over since the conclusion of last season. It will include the likes of Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Seth Lugo, Blake Snell, Nick Martinez, and Michael Wacha. Melvin also spoke on how this group is his main pack of leaders but health also plays a role in whether they need new guys or not,

"We have a good six here, at this point, that we like. You never know where the health component goes during the course of Spring Training but he's one of those depth pieces," said Melvin. "Whether if he's not in the bullhorn and he is starting, we're able to build him up and he can be one of those guys that helps us out in a starting role over the course of season."

Melvin himself sees the potential of a healthy and committed Melvin, now he has to stay off the injured list and step up when his name is called.