Walker Buehler made his Padres debut on Saturday, pitching against the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona. The 31-year-old right-hander, recovering from two Tommy John surgeries, showed progress as he completed nearly three innings, where he balanced moments of struggle with encouraging signs of control and velocity.
The Padres signed Buehler to a minor-league contract earlier this month, viewing him as a potential part of their rotation once he regains his previous form. His outing offered a glimpse into the adjustments he has been making during his first two weeks of camp under pitching coach Ruben Niebla, including refining his mechanics and grip on certain pitches.
Details of Buehler’s Performance and Adjustments
Buehler started the game with a difficult first inning, allowing two runs on four singles before being pulled from the game. After that rocky inning, he settled in, retiring five straight batters and pitching into the third inning for a total of 48 pitches, with his fastball reaching 92 mph. His 47th pitch hit 91 mph, showing a velocity slightly above expectations for this stage of his recovery.
Reflecting on his performance, Buehler said,
“The first inning was a little rough. A bunch of singles, but throwing strikes. I think the velocity was a little bit above where we thought it would be. Overall, a lot of good, a lot of bad, lots of stuff to figure out. … Only so much you’re gonna get out of it today. But all in all, a good day.”
– Walker Buehler, Padres pitcher
Having undergone two Tommy John surgeries, Buehler no longer reaches the upper 90s on his fastball as he once did before 2022, when he posted a 2.90 ERA from 2017 to 2021. Since his return, his velocity has averaged around 94 mph, and his control has not matched his earlier dominance. However, the Padres believe there is room for improvement as he builds strength and refines his approach.
Buehler added,
“I think pitching on the backfields is different than pitching (against major leaguers in a stadium). Adrenaline is not quite what it probably will be here in the next one. But for (the velocity) to kind of casually be in there, I think, is really nice and reassuring. Every year, my elbow seems to kind of start feeling a little bit better. And this year is no different. I got in a lot better shape than typical offseasons, and I’m feeling good about it.”
– Walker Buehler, Padres pitcher
Game Situations and Pitching Strategy
Buehler’s first inning began with singles dribbled to the left side, a grounder under the first baseman, and a sacrifice fly, producing two runs on just three pitches before being replaced by minor-league pitcher Clay Edmonson. Edmonson finished the inning with only 23 pitches thrown in total from Buehler. Over his subsequent innings, Buehler relied more on sliders and curveballs to generate outs, showing the kind of finesse the Padres expect from him moving forward.
He emphasized the need to adapt by saying,
“I would love to get back to throwing really hard and trying to punch everyone. … I just want to help the team and be successful and get back to some of the expectations I used to have.”
– Walker Buehler, Padres pitcher
The Padres view this outing as a building block for Buehler’s role in 2026, expecting him to utilize pitches that rely less on velocity and more on precision and movement to retire hitters.
Other Pitching Performances and Team Updates
Following Buehler on the mound was left-hander Adrian Morejón, who dominated the Dinos in a quick, efficient 1-2-3 inning with 11 pitches. It marked Morejón’s first game action of the spring, as he comes off a career-high workload of 73⅔ innings across 75 games last season.
Pitching coach Ruben Niebla commented on Morejón’s preparation:
“Morejón took on a big load last year. … Him and I had the discussions (that) we’re going slow play just a little bit going into camp.”
– Ruben Niebla, Padres pitching coach
Relievers with assured spots in the bullpen, such as David Morgan and Jeremiah Estrada, have also been slowly ramping up their workloads, with Estrada making his second appearance on Saturday and Morgan pitching in two Cactus League games so far.
Mason Miller, the Padres’ closer and a key bullpen figure, delivered a perfect inning against the Mariners during the team’s 7-1 win on Saturday. Tossing 17 pitches, Miller struck out two batters and threw over 100 mph on three of his fastballs.
Despite the high velocity commanding attention, Miller’s focus remains on control and consistency. He said,
“You look at my walk rate last year, probably bottom 5%. Some of that comes with swing-and-miss stuff. I’m getting a lot of strikeouts. I’m also getting some takes out of the zone and deep counts and things like that. But I think (the goal is) just being more consistent.”
– Mason Miller, Padres closer
While Miller leads the league with a 44.4% strikeout rate and also has the highest miss rate at 42.5%, his walk rate rose to 12% in 2025, which ranks in the bottom 10% among relievers. Over a stretch of 13 games last season, Miller issued eight walks in 51 batters faced, highlighting the challenge of maintaining control throughout the long season.
Speaking on his control, Miller added,
“I think through the majority of last year, my control was good. I think it just came in patches that, like, I’d come in and have a couple walks in an outing or feel like I lost it for a couple hitters. I still managed to get out of the situation, but not in a way that I would like to. So just finding a way to stretch that over 162. You know you’re gonna have bad games, but how can you shorten that window up?”
– Mason Miller, Padres closer
Injury Update and Roster Notes
Utility player Pablo Reyes was hit near his elbow by a pitch on Friday, but X-rays came back negative, providing some relief. Reyes, a non-roster invitee with a .648 OPS across 606 major league plate appearances, remains in camp and available to contribute depending on the Padres’ roster needs.
Implications for the Padres’ Season and Future
Buehler’s performance in his Padres debut illustrates the team’s cautious optimism about his recovery and potential impact in their rotation, especially for the 2026 season. His ability to regain velocity and control after two major surgeries will be closely monitored, as it will determine his role both as a starter and a veteran presence.
The gradual integration of other pitchers such as Morejón and Miller adds to the Padres’ depth, but also underlines the need for consistency and endurance throughout the demanding season. How these arms perform during spring training will influence bullpen composition and rotation decisions as the Padres gear up for competitive play.
While Buehler and Miller focus on refining their control and solidifying healthy routines, the Padres’ coaching staff remains engaged in tailoring workloads and adjustments, aiming to maximize each pitcher’s effectiveness over the long term.
