Padres Finally See Brandon Morrow Back in the Majors

It has been quite the journey, but Brandon Morrow finally returned to pitch for the San Diego Padres. After a slew of injuries, he was called up from AAA to pitch in relief in Saturday afternoon’s game against the New York Mets.

The Padres called him up before the game just about 15 months since he last pitched in the Major Leagues. He had made the clubs rotation out of Spring Training and was their best starter in April of 2015. Then it all went south.

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When he first left his start May 2nd, it was thought he just needed some rehab and would be back by the All Star Break. Yet as injuries often are, every time he started coming back he would suffer a setback. He is just 32 years old and is appreciative of the journey despite the frustration:

“It’s been challenging at times. It definitely went slower than I thought it would coming into spring. … I’m feeling good now, everything has progressed nicely since I’ve cut down the innings and had some consistent work. I threw well in Triple-A and El Paso, and I’m standing here now, so it all worked out the way it was supposed to.”

Prior to this year Morrow had been a starter, but he continued to hit snags in that role and so transitioned to a bullpen role for AAA El Paso. He made 11 appearances in that role and is also able to focus just on his fastball, slider, splitter but cutting out his inconsistent curveball.

Padres Manager Andy Green knows what kind of work Morrow has put to get back here. At 32 years old, he is neither young and naiive or too old to contribute for the club moving forward:

“He’s been through a lot in his career, he’s battled through a lot of different injuries at different points in time. To work his way back here — it’s big for him.”

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Morrow is open to whatever comes his way in the future, be it starting or relieving, but he certainly plans on staying with the Padres. This is Morrow’s 10th major league season after starting with the Mariners and then the Blue Jays. He was once a rising star before injuries have slowed that rise. The Padres are hoping their patience in him pays off.