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Padres reliever Adrian Morejón has worked with mental performance coach Jeremías Alvarez since February 2024, with daily calls or texts and a weekly online session. Morejón credits the work with helping him respond to setbacks, as San Diego faces elimination in its NLDS against Milwaukee.
Padres reliever Adrian Morejón says ongoing work with mental performance coach Jeremías Alvarez has helped him move on from mistakes, including a go-ahead home run he allowed in San Diego’s 3-2 loss to Milwaukee in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Morejón has worked with Alvarez since February 2024, as the Padres head into Game 3 facing elimination.
After William Contreras hit a sinker from Morejón over the fence to put the Brewers ahead in Game 1, Morejón said he was focused on the next day rather than dwelling on the pitch. “Today it happened to be my day that I give up a home run,” he said after the game. “It’s about competing the following day and figuring out how to be better tomorrow.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Morejón and Alvarez talk or text every day and meet online for an hour each week, year-round. Morejón prioritizes the sessions and credits the mental work as one part of his development. He had previously tended to dwell on mistakes and lose confidence when an inning started badly.
Morejón was held out of Game 2, according to the report, and was expected to have a major role in Game 3. He finished the 2026 regular season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over a career-high 86 innings. Those regular-season numbers provide a snapshot of his year; they do not determine how he will perform in the playoff game.
How Mental Skills Shape His Relief Role
Relief pitchers often enter games in high-pressure situations, and a single walk, hit or home run can quickly change an inning. Morejón’s account shows how his response to a poor outing has become part of his preparation: rather than treating a mistake as proof that the rest of the game will go badly, he aims to reset and focus on the next task.
That approach matters to the Padres as they try to extend their season. Morejón is a high-leverage left-hander, and the report says he was expected to feature in Game 3. His availability and results will matter on the field, while his personal account offers a view of the work behind his ability to recover from setbacks. The coach’s work is one element in his progress, not a guarantee of any particular result.
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From Injury Setbacks to a Coaching Plan
Morejón’s path to the coaching relationship followed several difficult seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and returned to the Padres in June 2022, pitching 34 innings that season. Further injuries limited him in 2023: he recorded a 7.00 ERA in nine major-league innings, and his minor-league results were also poor, according to the report.
During the 2023 offseason, Padres pitching coach Jose Rada worked with Morejón at the team’s Arizona complex and noticed that his confidence dropped when something went wrong. Rada showed him a document from pitching coach Ruben Niebla identifying offseason priorities for bullpen pitchers. The focus listed for Morejón was the mental side of his game, rather than his pitches.
Morejón initially resisted seeking help, describing cultural expectations that men should brush off mental-health concerns and return to work. He grew up in Cuba, left home as a teenager and signed with San Diego as a 16-year-old international free agent for $11 million. In spring training 2024, Rada connected him with Alvarez. Morejón waited several weeks before calling, after encouragement from his wife, Melany.
Morejón said he noticed a difference within a month. The report notes that he made his first All-Star team in 2025. Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla praised Morejón’s willingness to recognize the need and follow through, pointing to the challenges of leaving his country young, a high-profile signing, injuries and uncertainty.
““It’s about competing the following day and figuring out how to be better tomorrow.””
— Adrian Morejón, after Game 1 of the NLDS
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What the Playoff Outlook Leaves Open
The report does not specify how many innings Morejón might pitch in Game 3, whether he would enter in a particular situation or how the coaching work affected his statistics independently of other factors. The Padres’ expected use of him is not a confirmed appearance, and the outcome of the game remains unknown.
The source also describes Morejón’s own view of the benefit of coaching and Niebla’s assessment of his maturity; it does not establish that mental performance coaching alone produced his major-league results. Morejón’s 2026 regular-season record and the Game 1 home run are confirmed details, but they cannot establish what will happen in the next game.
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Padres Return to Petco Park
Game 3 of the best-of-five NLDS is scheduled for Tuesday night at Petco Park. San Diego needs a win to avoid elimination, and Morejón was expected to play a major role after sitting out Game 2. The series result and his exact role will become clear when the Padres announce their plans and the game is played.
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Key Questions
When did Morejón begin working with a mental performance coach?
He began working with Jeremías Alvarez in February 2024, after Padres pitching coach Jose Rada gave him Alvarez’s contact information.
How often do Morejón and Alvarez work together?
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune report, they talk or text daily and hold an online session for an hour each week, year-round.
What are Morejón’s 2026 regular-season numbers?
He finished the regular season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, pitching a career-high 86 innings.
Will Morejón pitch in Game 3?
He was expected to have a major role after sitting out Game 2, but the report does not confirm a specific appearance, inning or workload.
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