Padres' 2025 unsung hero was one of the most productive relievers since the 1980s

The 2025 San Diego Padres had the best bullpen in Major League Baseball. With a league-best 3.06 collective ERA and 1.15 WHIP, the Friars relief staff was filled with stars. Robert Suarez. Mason Miller. Jason Adam. You name it, and the Padres had it.

But as you look down the pecking order of Padres relievers from this past season, it is unfortunately easy to forget about Adrian Morejon. The 26-year-old southpaw was not at the top of the list of household names, but he was just as good as anyone else in the bullpen. Or maybe even better.

Morejon was finally named an All-Star this season, but did so late in the game as a replacement for Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. It was a nice nod for Morejon, but his 2025 season goes much deeper than just being a second-thought All-Star.

For the first time since 1986, a full-time reliever won 13 or more games. That pitcher would be Adrian Morejon, who handed in a 13-6 record across 75 appearances. The last full-time relievers to reach this mark were Roger McDowell (Mets) and Mark Eichhorn (Blue Jays), who both produced 14 wins in 1986. Ryan Yarbrough won 16 games in his rookie season in 2018 with the Rays, but he also made six starts.

Yes, wins and losses are a bit of an outdated stat. That's understood. But, the rest of Morejon's numbers indicate that he earned those wins. A 2.08 ERA, 206 ERA+, and 0.896 WHIP suggest that he was, in fact, that dominant. He's a lefty who can reach triple digits on the radar gun, but hitters still get weak contact on him. His hard hit percentage was among the best in baseball this year, as was his barrel rate and xERA.

He also produced a 2.4 bWAR, which was tops on the Padres relief staff. And it's not just his 13 wins, either. He registered 20 holds and three saves. He was able to come into the game at any given point and produce outs at a high level. As he becomes arbitration eligible this winter, that value is going to increase his stock. Frankly, he deserves to get paid. They are going to need him, especially with Suarez likely gone, Miller potentially moving to the starting rotation, and Adam's health remaining unclear for the start of the 2026 season.

Morejon was also on the short list of bright spots for the Padres in the 2025 postseason. In three outings (4.1 innings) against the Cubs in the Wild Card round, he did not allow a run. He faced 14 batters and only two of them reached base. He was elite from start to finish, and hopefully his 2025 season will be remembered among the all-time great pitching efforts in recent Padres memory.