The San Diego Padres have carved out a reputation for having one of the most formidable bullpens in Major League Baseball. Whether it's the explosive "Slam Diego" offense or a pitching rotation held together by sheer determination, the Padres' relief corps remains their crown jewel as they head into the 2026 season.
With Spring Training wrapping up, the Padres are fine-tuning their roster, and the bullpen is the focal point.
Key Roster Locks
Typically, MLB teams carry eight relievers on their 26-man roster, and the Padres are expected to follow suit. While they’ve flirted with the idea of a six-man starting rotation, sacrificing bullpen depth seems unlikely.
Mason Miller is set to be the team's closer, and there's a strong case for him being the best in the league next season. Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada are returning to their high-leverage roles after excelling last year.
David Morgan, following a stellar rookie season with a 2.66 ERA over 47 ⅓ innings, is also a solid bet to make the bullpen. Wandy Peralta is likely to reprise his role as a reliable lefty, but beyond that, the competition heats up.
The Battle for the Final Spots
With six spots seemingly locked, the competition for the last two bullpen roles is fierce. Yuki Matsui might start the season on the injured list, leaving Kyle Hart, Logan Gillaspie, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Jackson Wolf as the frontrunners.
Kyle Hart: After a standout season in Korea, Hart joined the Padres with high expectations but struggled as a starter. Transitioning to a relief role, he found his groove.
This spring, he's been lights out, not allowing a run over 8 ⅔ innings. His ability to cover multiple innings makes him a strong candidate.
Logan Gillaspie: Gillaspie started last season with a bang, posting a 2.57 ERA over 7 innings. His challenge has been controlling walks and hits, but he’s shown improvement this spring with a WHIP of 0.65 and no runs allowed over 7 ⅔ innings.
Bradgley Rodriguez: With an electric fastball, Rodriguez made a splash in his MLB debut last season, boasting a 1.17 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. His ability to limit opponents to a .160 batting average has carried into this spring, where he’s been dominant over 6 innings.
Jackson Wolf: Debuting in 2023, Wolf has primarily been a starter in the minors. However, his performance this spring, with a 1.93 ERA over a team-leading 9 ⅔ innings, puts him in the mix for a bullpen spot. If he can keep the walks in check, he could be a valuable asset.
Whichever way the final roster decisions fall, the Padres have an enviable dilemma: an abundance of talented arms ready to make an impact.