The San Diego Padres’ bullpen should be one of the best units in MLB in 2026. If you are a fan of relievers, you should enjoy this group.

Last year, while ranking 10th in innings pitched, the Friars finished first in opponent batting average (.209) and WHIP (1.15) and second in strikeouts. Walks were a bit of an issue as the Padres finished 19th, but this was a wholly dominant crew of late-inning firemen. Despite the loss of closer Robert Suarez to free agency, the Friars shouldn’t miss a beat as Mason Miller, acquired at the trade deadline, takes over in that role.

Relievers tend to be the difference-makers during a season. and the Padres will rely on their bullpen to again be the bedrock of the team.

Breaking Down Every Reliever in Padres’ Bullpen

Who Was Scheduled to Come Back?

Pretty much everyone, aside from Suarez, of course. The only subtraction was right-hander Sean Reynolds, who was non-tendered after a rough 19 appearances in 2025.

Joining Miller in this year’s bullpen are left-handers Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Yuki Matsui, as well as right-handers Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, Jhony Brito and Ron Marinaccio.

There is quality wherever you look, but the focus of this year’s relievers will be Miller, the latest in a line of very good or great Padres closers.

As Miller showed in the NL Wild Card Series versus the Cubs, he can unleash some of the most wicked stuff in all of MLB. Suarez was really good as the Friars’ closer the last two years, converting 76 of 87 save chances. While not having as many opportunities with the A’s, Miller has converted 50 of 57 in his brief career. He struck out an amazing 44..4% of hitters last season, including 54.2% with the Padres, more than twice the MLB average of 22.5%. But he also walked 12% of hitters, worse than the league average (8.4%).

Combined with Morejon at the back end, the Friars will be just fine for any late-game situation.

Two players to watch coming back from injury are Adam and Brito. Adam ruptured a quad tendon in September, which required surgery. At the time, it was expected he would start this season on the injured list, but with a potential April return. Brito had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and a flexor tendon repair last April, so late May or perhaps early June is the earliest expectation for his return.

Who Was Added?

Without much need in the offseason, the Friars made two small 40-man moves, signing right-handers Daison Acosta and Ty Adcock. The 27-year-old Acosta has yet to make his MLB debut, spending the last two seasons in the Washington Nationals’ organization, so he is likely to be a depth option who opens the season at Triple-A El Paso. That would be a similar scenario for Adcock, who just turned 29 but does have 18 games of MLB experience over the last three seasons, six with the New York Mets in 2024 and 2025 and 12 with the Seattle Mariners in 2023.

Candidates to Join the Bullpen?

Other relievers on the 40-man are right-handers Alek Jacob, Bryan Hoeing and Garrett Hawkins. Jacob was a 16th-round draft choice in 2021 who made his MLB debut in 2023 and made 29 appearances in 2025, yet posted a 5.90 FIP. Hoeing has been decent in 25 relief appearances for the Padres over the last two years after coming over from the Miami Marlins in the Tanner Scott trade. Hoeing does have 10 MLB starts with the Marlins, so you wonder if the Friars stretch him out this spring due to the lack of rotation depth. Hawkins was a ninth-round draft pick of the Padres in 2021 and made it up to Double-A San Antonio in 2025, appearing in 13 games. That was his first season back since Tommy John surgery in 2023.

Among prospects, right-hander Francis Pena is the top candidate to make the team, having pitched all of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso, but struggling with control (34 walks in 52â…“ innings).

The Bottom Line

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Padres should have one of the best bullpens in all of MLB in 2026. There is depth and versatility.

The depth could be very important as the thin starting rotation could lead to more innings for this group. That could lead to some opportunities for the depth pieces who will begin the season at El Paso. Should the rotation be somewhat stable, opponents will have a difficult time scoring against this relief corps.

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