While the San Diego Padres’ newest acquisitions have garnered all the attention, do not forget about prospect Adrian Morejon.
The San Diego Padres are coming into the 2021 season with one of the best starting rotations in all of major league baseball. You have recently acquired Blake Snell and Yu Darvish added to the mix that includes returning starters Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. The final spot of the rotation is expected to be filled internally, but don’t be surprised if Adrian Morejon wins the competition and has a breakout season for the Padres.
Clearly, the Padres are the stars of this offseason as they’re making an aggressive push towards competing for a World Series title. The additions of Snell and Darvish will bring more eyes on the team as the season progresses. But keep a close eye on the Friars minor league system as it’s bursting with young, talented starting pitchers. If Padres general manager AJ Preller plays his cards right, one of his young starters could be the deciding factor in the Friars winning the National League West in 2021.
Morejon was an Unlikely October Hero For Padres
No question, Morejon is ready to make that jump into a major league starting rotation. In the crazy circumstances that surrounded the 2020 season, the 21-year old lefthander made himself a viable candidate by going 2-2 4.66 ERA in nine appearances. But it was his mound work in last October’s wild-card round that caught everyone’s attention.
Morejon pitched only three innings of work, but he became the Padres unlikely October hero of the postseason. He allowed one hit and struck out three batters in two playoff appearances. Morejon’s calming presence on the mound uplifted his team to rally and defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the series. His postseason performance should give him the confidence needed to win the final spot in the Padres starting rotation this spring.
Hardwork at His Craft Brought Morejon Centerstage
For the last two seasons, Morejon was on the back end of the Padres top ten prospect list. There were concerns about certain aspects to his approach on the mound. It mostly dealt with Morejon using the entire strike zone, which makes for an uncomfortable at-bat.
Now, he has better command of his pitches that allows him to get through an opposing lineup untouched. MacKenzie Gore is the Padres most heralded minor league pitcher, but 2021 could be the season where Morejon becomes his equal.
Paddack Ready to Re-Discover His Former Self
If Morejon could have a breakout season that would bolster the Padres rotation to elite status. It would give them the option of four frontline pitchers to start on a given night. Granted, we have left Chris Paddack out of the mix, but that is because the Padres lost confidence in him last season.
However, do not rule out Paddack re-discovering his former self on the mound again. It will help him to have a full season under the tutelage of Padres pitching coach Larry Rothschild. The combination of Morejon’s emergence and having a new voice in his ear allows Paddack the time to re-gain his confidence as a starting pitcher. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him frustrating major hitters once again before season’s end.
2021 could be the season where Morejon pitches under the radar all summer long. All of the media’s attention will center on Snell and Darvish’s impact on the San Diego Padres roster. But the bigger story might be Morejon’s impact on the rotation by simply pitching the same way he ended the 2020 season…surprisingly effective.
Stay tuned, there is more to this story.