San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove has not appeared in a game since Oct. 2, 2024, leaving Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves because of elbow stiffness. He would then undergo Tommy John surgery on Oct. 11.
There was hope he'd be healthy to begin the 2026 season. He made an appearance during spring training, throwing 60 pitches in an exhibition match against Team Great Britain. However, he was quickly shut down and started the season on the IL.
His return timeline has been unclear, with general manager A.J. Preller revealing that Musgrove had not yet resumed throwing on May 15.
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The one-time All-Star is beginning to take an important step in the rehab process, though. Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Musgrove is set to play catch next week.
"Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are progressing beyond the “active rest” stage," Acee wrote. "They have both increased their activity, and Musgrove plans to play catch next week."
Getting him back on the mound as soon as possible is key to the Padres' postseason and World Series hopes. From 2021 to 2024, the El Cajon, California native has appeared in 98 games for San Diego, 97 of which have been starts.
He's proven to be a solid piece to the rotation, tossing 559.1 innings, posting a 3.20 ERA and 1.108 WHIP. He also threw the franchise's first no-hitter against the Texas Rangers during the 2021 season.
While nothing is set in stone, Acee noted that there is hope that Musgrove and Pivetta can make a return late in the summer. With a five-year, $100 million contract that runs through the 2027 season, the Padres are still counting on Musgrove to be a contributor in the rotation.
