How an Undrafted Free Agent Has Become an Underrated Cog in Stellar 2026 Padres Bullpen
Much of the discussion surrounding the last few years of San Diego Padres baseball has been about their pitching staff. The rotation has been excellent, with years of great starters cycling through the city, yet last year the bullpen stole the show. San Diego's stash of relievers was given the nickname of the “super bullpen,” and for good reason. San Diego sent three relievers to the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Despite the recognition given to some of the Padre’s best relief arms, one man went under the radar.
Written Off
David Morgan’s journey to the major leagues has been anything but linear. Before he was an integral piece of the Padres 2026 bullpen, he was a position player at Orange Coast College, a community college in Costa Mesa, California. There, he played centerfield and excelled. Morgan earned two First-Team All-League selections in his two seasons played at Orange Coast. As a freshman in 2019, the centerfielder hit .308 with 37 RBI. After playing one more season in 2021, he transferred. Morgan would land at Hope International University in Fullerton, CA, where he would be transitioned into a two-way player, a decision that ultimately paid dividends for his future. In the batter's box, Morgan hit .349 in his 55 games played, adding 35 RBI as well. On the mound, the two-way star threw just nine innings, yet struck out 13 batters with a 2.89 ERA in said innings. After his 2022 season at Hope International, the Padres saw enough arm potential to sign him as an undrafted free agent. On August 1st, 2022, Morgan inked a deal with the Padres, a monumental accomplishment on its own, given his lack of collegiate and professional interest exiting high school. It would have been a great story on its own, but Morgan was not even close to being finished.
Major League Success
In 2025, a 25-year-old Morgan made his debut. It came on May 26th against the Miami Marlins. There was no fanfare or expectations from casual Padres watchers, but an average fastball velocity of 97.5 miles per hour ensured heads would turn soon. The former center fielder was entrusted with 47.1 innings of work in 2025, where he pitched to a beautiful 2.66 ERA in those innings. Morgan was able to punch out 50 batters in those innings, giving him an impressive nine and a half strikeouts per nine innings. 2026 has been a continuation of the successful aspects of Morgan’s game. Thus far, the now 26-year-old has pitched 10.1 innings without allowing a single run. Baseball savant ranks him in the 99th percentile of average exit velocity allowed. The right-hander also sits in the 99th percentile of hard-hit percentage and ground ball rate. Inducing weak contact is a recipe for success, and so far, there are no signs that Morgan will slow down in 2026. The numbers combined with the underdog story make it clear: Morgan deserves more respect.
