San Diego Padres 2025 Reliever Of The Year

The Padres’ 2025 season was built on the strength of their bullpen. Whether it was closing out tight games, bridging shaky starts, or racking up strikeouts in high-leverage moments, San Diego leaned heavily on its relief corps. Several arms turned in All-Star caliber performances, and the group as a whole ranked among the most reliable in baseball. With so many standouts, picking a Reliever of the Year isn’t easy, but these five pitchers (plus two honorable mentions) rose above the rest.

Honorable Mention: Wandy Peralta – 71 G, 6-1, 71.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 0.4 WAR, .238 AVG, 7.81 K/9, 3.84 BB/9
Peralta provided steady depth with 71 appearances and 71 2/3 innings. His 3.14 ERA and .238 opponent average weren’t eye-popping compared to the top arms, but his ability to eat innings and deliver quality outings kept the bullpen from being overworked.

Honorable Mention: David Morgan – 41 G, 1-2, 47.1 IP, 2.66 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 0.2 WAR, .208 AVG, 9.61 K/9, 4.50 BB/9
Despite being called up and making his major league debut in late May, the rookie Morgan quietly put together a strong season in 41 games, posting a 2.66 ERA over 47 1/3 innings. He struck out more than a batter per inning and limited opponents to a .208 average. His concerningly high walk rate might be holding him back from a bigger role, but he was another useful piece in San Diego’s deep bullpen.

5. Jeremiah Estrada – 77 G, 4-5, 73.0 IP, 3.45 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 1.0 WAR, .216 AVG, 13.32 K/9, 3.33 BB/9, 3-6 SVO, 30 HLD
If strikeouts are your thing, Estrada was a must-watch all year long. The righty piled up punchouts at a 13.32 K/9 clip, tying for the MLB lead in strikeouts by a reliever at 108. His 77 appearances led the team, and his 30 holds underline how heavily the Padres leaned on him in setup duty. He was more prone to the long ball than others, giving up 12 home runs, but his swing-and-miss stuff often bailed him out of jams. When the Padres needed a big strikeout with runners on, Estrada was the arm they called.

4. Mason Miller – 22 G, 0-0, 23.1 IP, 0.77 ERA, 1.12 FIP, 1.1 WAR, .096 AVG, 17.36 K/9, 3.86 BB/9, 2-3 SVO, 10 HLD
Miller came over to the Padres in a big splash at the deadline and has been virtually untouchable since. In just 22 appearances, he struck out an absurd 17.36 batters per nine while posting a 0.77 ERA and 1.12 FIP. Hitters looked overmatched, batting just .096 against him. With 10 holds and two saves, Miller excelled in every opportunity given. The only thing holding him back in this race is his being the newest piece to this bullpen, but his second-half dominance was as electric as any reliever in baseball.

3. Jason Adam – 65 G, 8-4, 65.1 IP, 1.93 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 1.2 WAR, .210 AVG, 9.64 K/9, 3.44 BB/9, 29 HLD
Before his season was cut short by a torn left quadriceps tendon in early September, Adam was one of baseball’s most dominant setup men. In 65 appearances, he allowed just a 1.93 ERA across 65 1/3 innings, striking out nearly 10 per nine while holding opponents to a .210 average. He racked up 29 holds, showing just how often he was the go-to arm in late innings ahead of Suarez. Though his injury ended his season prematurely, Adam’s reliability over five months helped stabilize the bullpen and set the table for many Padres wins.

2. Robert Suarez – 70 G, 4-6, 69.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 1.9 WAR, .189 AVG, 9.69 K/9, 2.07 BB/9, 40-45 SVO
The Padres’ closer was as steady as they come, finishing second in the majors with 40 saves in 45 opportunities. Suarez paired his dominant fastball with precise command, striking out nearly 10 batters per nine while walking just 2.07 per nine. Opponents hit a mere .189 against him, and he delivered 69.2 innings across 70 appearances with a 2.97 ERA. His reliability in the ninth made him the bullpen’s heartbeat, and like fellow relievers Morejon and Adam, he earned All-Star honors. Suarez shouldered the pressure of protecting slim leads night after night and excelled while doing so.

1. Adrián Morejon – 75 G, 13-6, 73.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 2.2 WAR, .186 AVG, 8.55 K/9, 2.08 BB/9, 3-7 SVO, 20 HLD
No Padres reliever shouldered a bigger workload in 2025 than Adrián Morejon. The 26-year-old southpaw quietly became the Padres’ most dependable bullpen weapon. Appearing in a team-high 75 games and logging 73 2/3 innings, he posted a sparkling 2.08 ERA and 2.28 FIP while limiting hitters to a .186 average. His 20 holds highlight how often manager Mike Shildt trusted him in high-leverage spots, and he responded with consistency. Morejon’s control stood out, and while he converted just three saves, his ability to bridge innings and pitch in virtually any situation made him invaluable. An All-Star nod capped off a breakout year that firmly established him as a bullpen anchor.

The consistency earned Morejon his first All-Star selection, a recognition of just how vital he was to San Diego’s success. While Suarez locked down the ninth inning and Estrada racked up strikeouts, it was Morejon who quietly logged the most appearances, protected countless leads, and gave the Padres flexibility whenever the bullpen was stretched thin. In a year full of bullpen stars, Morejon’s mix of reliability, versatility, and production put him at the center of San Diego’s relief corps.

By advanced metrics, Morejon’s value stood out even more. His 2.2 WAR led all San Diego relievers, reflecting not just the quality of his innings but also the volume. Morejon’s workload and efficiency demonstrated how vital middle and setup arms can be to a winning team.

Perhaps most importantly, this season felt like a turning point in Morejon’s career. Despite being in the league for six years, this was Morejon’s first full season. For the Padres, that consistency meant they had someone they could lean on three or four times a week without hesitation. For Morejon, it meant being recognized as one of the best multipurpose relievers in the game. In a bullpen full of stars, he was the glue that held everything together.