San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove has been added to the team’s 26-man roster for the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, marking his first major league appearance in nearly two years following Tommy John surgery and subsequent setbacks.
Nearly two years after tearing his right elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament during a postseason start, Joe Musgrove is back on a major league playoff roster. The San Diego Padres included the right-hander on their 26-man roster ahead of their best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park on Tuesday.
Musgrove has not pitched in an MLB game since Oct. 2, 2024, when he exited Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves. Following reconstructive surgery that month, he missed the entire 2025 campaign and the entirety of the 2026 regular season while navigating a recovery marked by recurring physical hurdles.
Bullpen Role Awaits Returning Right-Hander
Rather than returning to the starting rotation as initially anticipated, Musgrove is slated to work out of the bullpen. Manager Craig Stammen added him to an 11-man pitching staff designed to get through the opening round.
Musgrove attempted to stretch out as a starter earlier this year, making four minor league rehab appearances in August and pitching in the Arizona Complex League. However, his elbow required several days to recover after longer workloads, prompting a strategic pivot to shorter relief stints.
Recent sessions offered clear encouragement. He flashed fastball velocity reaching 97 mph during instructional league games and live batting practice sessions leading up to the roster announcement, pairing the velocity with sharp control of his breaking pitches.
I don’t know if it’s the shorter outings or if we’ve finally reached a point where my arm is just feeling healthy.
Joe Musgrove, Padres pitcher
Roster Adjustments and Staff Decisions Against the Cubs
To accommodate Musgrove, the Padres adjusted their pitching staff, leaving off several arms who contributed down the stretch. Right-hander Randy Vásquez—who threw 68 pitches across six innings in Sunday’s regular-season finale—did not make the cut, alongside Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning.
The club opted to carry 15 position players, emphasizing bench depth and matchup flexibility against Chicago’s left-handed pitching. Outfielder Miguel Andújar also earned a surprise spot on the 26-man squad despite missing time since July 19 due to a broken wrist.
Behind the plate, 20-year-old Ethan Salas secured his place on the roster. If Salas appears in a game during the series, he will become the youngest catcher in MLB postseason history.
Emotional Boost and On-Field Expectations
Musgrove’s return carries deep personal resonance for the franchise. A San Diego native and Grossmont High School alumnus who threw the first no-hitter in franchise history in 2021, his presence in the dugout provides an immediate morale lift.
Questions remain regarding his durability in back-to-back appearances, as the right-hander likely won’t be able to pitch in back-to-back games. Nevertheless, his addition strengthens a Padres relief corps tasked with supporting a rotation featuring Game 1 starter Michael King as San Diego pursues a deep October run.
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