Veteran right-hander Joe Musgrove just landed a spot on the San Diego Padres’ NL Wild Card Series roster. Yeah, you read that right. This guy hasn’t been on a major league mound for almost two full years!
The Long Road Back for Musgrove
Can you believe it? Musgrove’s last big-league game was way back on October 2, 2024. He left that Padres Wild Card victory against Atlanta with a nasty right elbow injury, which eventually meant Tommy John surgery. Poof, gone for the entire 2025 season. And then, recovery was a total grind, it progressed way slower than anyone expected, so he missed the entire 2026 regular season too. Talk about a comeback trail! Now he’s 34 years old, and though he managed four rehab appearances in August, he was still telling folks his postgame recoveries were brutal. But then, this month, he’s been throwing in instructional league games, and apparently, the Padres liked what they saw. Manager Craig Stammen made the call, putting Musgrove on the 26-man roster. This wasn’t a slam dunk, either. San Diego chose him for their 11-man postseason pitching staff over dependable Randy Vasquez, lefty reliever Wandy Peralta, trade deadline acquisition Casey Mize, and Griffin Canning. That’s a huge vote of confidence, or maybe a massive gamble!
Youthful Fire and Surprise Returns
It’s not just Musgrove turning heads. The Padres’ Wild Card roster is full of wild cards, literally! Outfielder Miguel Andújar is also a surprising inclusion. He hasn’t played since July 19 because of a broken wrist, but he was taking at-bats at Petco Park just Monday. You gotta wonder how much he’ll actually contribute, but hey, he’s there! Then there’s the phenom, Ethan Salas. This 20-year-old catcher was an expected addition, and for good reason. He was called up on September 1, becoming the youngest player to catch a major league game since Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez back in 1991. If Salas gets into this series, he’ll make history again, becoming the youngest catcher ever to play in the MLB postseason. After a bit of a slow start, this kid finished the regular season strong, racking up 10 hits in his last 24 at-bats. That’s the kind of momentum you want going into October!
So, the Padres are rolling into this Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs with a roster that’s got some serious question marks and some explosive young talent. Will Musgrove, after two years away and a tough recovery, be able to deliver on the biggest stage? Can Salas, the young gun, handle the pressure cooker of postseason baseball? This series is going to be a must-watch, with so many unknowns and potential history in the making. Let’s see if these bold moves pay off for San Diego!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply