Musgrove’s appearance at Petco Park marked his first major league action in nearly two years, following a grueling rehabilitation process after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024. The 33-year-old right-hander threw a shutout frame, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two batters to seal the win.
A High-Stakes Gamble on the Postseason Roster
The decision to include Musgrove on the active postseason roster caught many by surprise, given that he had not pitched at the major league level since October 2, 2024, during a Wild Card win against the Atlanta Braves. After suffering setbacks during minor league rehab appearances in August—where he admitted to media outlets that he was running out of answers regarding his arm recovery—Musgrove steadily ramped up his activity behind the scenes.
According to ESPN, pitching coach Ruben Niebla and the coaching staff signed off on his return after encouraging live-batting-practice sessions and instructional league outings in Arizona. Manager Craig Stammen noted that the primary hurdle was evaluating how Musgrove’s arm responded on consecutive days, a test the veteran pitcher passed by demonstrating a consistent ability to play catch daily.
Emotional Boost and Looking Ahead
The local ace received a resounding ovation from the home crowd upon entering the game. Speaking with Yahoo Sports, Stammen highlighted the significance of the moment for both the franchise and the player. “It was emotional for a lot of people, probably especially Joe. The fanbase has always loved Joe because he’s one of their own,” Stammen said. “For Joe to finish that game is awesome, good to cap it off. And now he’s back in the fold.”
While the Padres hold a commanding mental advantage heading into the next game of the series on the road, the exact workload Musgrove can shoulder moving forward remains a tactical variable. Stammen indicated that the team plans to deploy him in a flexible relief capacity as they pursue deep October success.