SAN DIEGO -- The last time Joe Musgrove took the mound for the Padres, he was pitching them into the 2024 National League Division Series. Starting Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against Atlanta, Musgrove tore the UCL in his right elbow and would require Tommy John surgery, keeping him out nearly two years.
Now, his return might come on the very same stage -- on the very same Petco Park mound.
In a stunning move on Tuesday morning, the Padres added Musgrove to their Wild Card Series roster ahead of Game 1 against the Cubs on Tuesday night. He is expected to pitch a limited role in relief.
Musgrove was originally hopeful to return to the rotation in the early part of the season. But he endured multiple setbacks this year. After the latest of those setbacks, the Padres pivoted to using Musgrove in a bullpen role.
Musgrove never formally rehabbed as a reliever, instead pitching games at the Arizona Complex League. As a starter, his stuff mostly looked quality during his Minor League outings. But Musgrove struggled to bounce back after those outings. His elbow took several days to recover from the workload -- hence the move to the bullpen.
If nothing else, Musgrove’s inclusion is surely a major emotional boost for the Padres. He is one of the most beloved players in the clubhouse and by the fanbase. He’s a native San Diegan and a lifelong Padres fan with an interlocking SD tattooed on his biceps. The ovation during introductions figures to be raucous.
Musgrove is one of 11 pitchers on the Padres’ postseason roster. They went heavy on the hitting side with 15 bats, in order to play matchups at catcher, DH and left field.
As expected, San Diego is carrying three catchers, including top prospect Ethan Salas (MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 overall) , who could become the youngest player in MLB history to catch a postseason game. Miguel Andujar is also on the roster, after missing two months with a right wrist fracture.
There's some uncertainty around what they’ll be getting from Musgrove, but in a short series the Padres figured eight pitchers in their lockdown bullpen would be enough.
Musgrove makes the roster over Randy Vásquez (who was unlikely to be included after throwing 68 pitches in Sunday’s regular-season finale) and Wandy Peralta. Kyle Hart was optioned last week as well.
Here’s the Padres roster in full:
- RHP (8): Jason Adam, Walker Buehler, Michael King, Mason Miller, David Morgan, Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, Bradgley Rodriguez
- LHP (3): Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon, Robbie Ray
- C (3): Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin, Ethan Salas
- INF (6): Miguel Andujar, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Ty France, Manny Machado, Gavin Sheets
- OF (6): Jase Bowen, Dustin Harris, Austin Hays, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr., Samad Taylor