Pitcher Adrián Morejón is becoming one of the most pleasant surprises of the season amongst Cubans in 2025. The left-hander has made a full transition from starter to reliever and has been dominant.
Morejón is solidifying his position in the San Diego Padres bullpen, one of the hottest teams to open the campaign and the pre-season favorites to reach the World Series, despite the presence of another giant in their division, the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 10 appearances so far out of the pen for the Friars the young southpaw has a 0.87 earned run average, two holds, a save, seven strikeouts and a 0.96 WHIP making a good candidate for an All-Star game appearance in the early going. Morejón spoke to Javier González of our sister page Pelota Cubana earlier this month about an array of topics.
What adjustments did you make after returning from the injury?
It was a team effort, with help from the manager, the pitching coaches, the staff, the massage therapists, the people in the gym—everyone—because it was a long process of getting to know myself, of figuring out what could help me. I feel like I’ve matured quite a bit physically, and that’s helped me get to know my body and know what I need to do to prepare. I feel like the change to a reliever was a big help, as it helps keep my arm healthier.
In your particular case, would you have preferred to debut with a team without pressure or to take on that workload from the very start of your career?
I don’t think so. I’ve never really thought about that. This was always the team that gave me the opportunity, first to sign me and then to first team I reached the Major Leagues with, so I’m not worried about the pressure. In the end, that’s what we’re here for, and at some point in our careers, almost all of us will play for teams like this, and I feel good about being here right now.
There are great pitchers who share the locker room with you: Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Michael King, and now Dylan Cease. What do you learn from them?
I arrived here fairly young, the greatest thing I can take away from each of them is their work ethic. That’s something that’s practically unheard of in Cuba, and when you come here and look at them, they’re, as they say, “the team’s horses,” and they have a work ethic that’s a fundamental part of their success. That’s a great lesson you can take away from each of them.