Adrián Morejón Explained

Adrian Morejón
Number:50
Position:Pitcher
Team:San Diego Padres
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Birth Date:27 February 1999
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 21
Debutyear:2019
Debutteam:San Diego Padres
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:July 28, 2024
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:9–4
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.36
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:118
Teams:

Adrian Morejón Garcia (born February 27, 1999) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.

Career

Cuban career

Morejón played for the Cuban national baseball team in the 2011 12U Baseball World Championship and the 2014 15U Baseball World Cup. He was named the most valuable player of the latter tournament.[1] He appeared in the Cuban National Series for the Huracanes de Mayabeque that year.

Morejón defected from Cuba in October 2015.[2] He relocated to the Dominican Republic and was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball in July 2016.[3]

San Diego Padres

Morejón signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, receiving a $11 million signing bonus, on July 7, 2016.[4] He made his professional debut in 2017, spending time with both the Tri-City Dust Devils and the Fort Wayne TinCaps, posting a combined 3–4 win–loss record with a 3.86 earned run average (ERA) in 13 starts between both clubs.[5] He spent 2018 with the Lake Elsinore Storm, going 4–4 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 starts.[6] He began 2019 with the Amarillo Sod Poodles.[7] Morejón was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[8]

On July 21, 2019, the Padres selected Morejón's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[9] He made his major league debut that day versus the Chicago Cubs.[10] In 2020, Morejón pitched to a 2–2 record and 4.66 ERA with 25 strikeouts in innings across nine games (four games started).[11]

Morejón departed from a game started on April 11, 2021, against the Texas Rangers after suffering a left forearm strain. On April 20, it was announced that Morejón would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the 2021 season.[12] On April 23, Morejón was placed on the 60-day injured list.[13] After rehabilitating from his surgery, Morejón returned to the Padres' active roster on June 7, 2022.[14] He made a career–high 26 appearances for San Diego in 2022, logging a 5–1 record and 4.24 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 38.0 innings of work.[15]

On January 13, 2023, Morejón agreed to a one-year, $800K contract with the Padres, avoiding salary arbitration.[16] He was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the season after suffering a left elbow sprain in spring training.[17] After a rehab assignment with Low–A Lake Elsinore, Morejòn was activated from the injured list on June 6 and optioned to Triple–A El Paso.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20220630104318/https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2014-u15-baseball-world-cup/news/cuba-crowned-u15-world-champions-with-victory-over-usa-in-gold-medal-final . June 30, 2022 . Cuba crowned U-15 Baseball World Champions with 6-3 victory over USA in World Cup final . 31 July 2024 . . August 11, 2024 . en.
  2. Web site: October 12, 2015 . Adrian Morejon, MVP At 15U World Cup, Leaves Cuba - BaseballAmerica.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20151019035012/https://www.baseballamerica.com/international/adrian-morejon-mvp-15u-world-cup-leaves-cuba/ . 19 October 2015 . November 19, 2016 .
  3. Web site: Cuban phenom Morejon, 17, is free agent. MLB.com.
  4. Web site: Padres sign Cuban prospect Morejon for $11M. Dennis . Lin . July 7, 2016. July 7, 2016.
  5. Web site: Adrian Morejon Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. February 9, 2018.
  6. Web site: Adrian Morejon Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. October 21, 2018.
  7. Web site: Padres' Adrian Morejon: Healthy again. CBSSports.com.
  8. Web site: Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters. Jim Callis. MLB.com. June 28, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  9. Web site: Padres' Adrian Morejon: To join Padres' bullpen. RotoWire Staff. CBS Sports. July 19, 2019. July 20, 2019.
  10. Web site: Padres' youngsters combine to down Cubs. Russell Dorsey. MLB.com. July 21, 2019. July 22, 2019.
  11. Web site: Padres roster review: Adrián Morejón. 14 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Padres lefty Morejon has Tommy John surgery. April 21, 2021. ESPN.com.
  13. Web site: Connor Byrne . Padres Select Aaron Northcraft . Mlbtraderumors.com . 2022-06-17.
  14. Web site: Padres notes: Rare smile for Adrian Morejon, reunion for Sean Manaea. June 8, 2022. San Diego Union-Tribune.
  15. Web site: 2022 Padres Player Review: Adrian Morejon. June 11, 2023. gaslampball.com. en.
  16. Web site: 2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker. January 13, 2023. MLBTradeRumors.
  17. Web site: Padres’ Adrian Morejon: Lands on 60-day IL. 2023-06-06. cbssports.com. en.
  18. Web site: Padres’ Adrian Morejon: Activated, optioned to Triple-A. 2023-06-06. cbssports.com. en.