The San Diego Padres will be without their starting pitcher Joe Musgrove for the National League Division Series, as he will need to undergo Tommy John surgery. The Padres will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the NLDS on Saturday evening. Musgrove’s 2024 season has come to an end and he will have to cheer his team on from the bench. In 2024, he has a 6-5 record with a 3.88 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 99 2/3 innings pitched. Musgrove left Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning with elbow tightness. This was following an issue with his windup that Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka caught sight of during the game.
RHP Joe Musgrove has UCL injury, will undergo Tommy John surgery. The announcement was made by Padres GM A.J. Preller. pic.twitter.com/Pz38qi8XcP
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2024
Padres Starter Joe Musgrove Sidelined with Tommy John Surgery
Padres general manager A.J. Preller confirmed that Musgrove has a UCL injury and will not pitch in the remainder of the postseason. He will miss the 2025 season as well. When Musgrove spoke to the media about his injury, he said that the news was difficult, but that he is willing to put the work in to recover and get better. “I’ve come to grips with the fact that I need the surgery. It’s part of the risk you take when you play this game,” said Musgrove. But the news also sparked a lot of emotions for the right-hander. “I’m devastated about not being able to finish what we initially started.” He has been dealing with lingering issues with his elbow all season, including bone spurs dating back multiple seasons.
Padres Hometown Hero Musgrove
With the nature of his injury and his history of elbow issues, Musgrove’s UCL tear felt almost inevitable. While the news is disappointing, Musgrove can recover from his injury knowing that he was a strong contributor to the Padres reaching the postseason. The fact he provided the Padres with significant innings down the stretch while dealing with elbow issues demonstrates his hustle, grind, and toughness.
Musgrove is a warrior of a pitcher who truly takes pride in his team and his city. He’s been a beloved Padre since signing with his hometown team in 2021. Musgrove is no stranger to the postseason, as he won the 2017 World Series when he played for the Houston Astros. That season, he sported a 7-8 record with a 4.77 ERA. Musgrove has also spent time pitching with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2018-2020. His season-ending surgery comes at an inconvenient time, especially when he had been pitching so well. But Musgrove should come back at full strength. He has pitched consistently well in his tenure with the Padres, with a 47-24 record and a 3.20 ERA.
Photo Credit: © Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
