First he was Java Joe, then No-No Joe, but on Wednesday afternoon he was Comeback Joe.
Padres starting pitcher and Grossmont High alum Joe Musgrove returned to the mound for the first time since tearing his UCL and undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024. He faced the British national team in a final exhibition at Peoria Sports Complex ahead of Great Britain’s opening pool play in the World Baseball Classic.
“To me, this is another step,” Musgrove said. “I think getting in a big-league game, facing big league hitters in the big stadium, night game, things like that will be another adjustment. For me, this was just: I’m still checking boxes and building up.”
His first action in 17 months was far from vintage, but glimpses of the stuff that made him an All-Star in 2022 were evident against a British lineup largely made up of American-born big league talent.
In the first inning, Musgrove blew a mid-90s fastball past New York Yankeescenter fielder Jazz Chisholm — a Bahamian with British citizenship through the nation’s colonial ties — for his first strikeout. He added two more punchouts: a sharp cutter that paralyzed Will Cresswell, and a biting curveball that retired Matt Koperniak, the only player on the roster actually born in the United Kingdom.
“I liked the shapes of my stuff,” Musgrove said. “Just command-wise, a little bit off from where I need to be.”
Over parts of three innings, Musgrove threw 60 pitches, 36 of them strikes, with his fastball averaging just over 94 mph. Only two of his 12 curveballs found the zone. He allowed one run on five hits. The game ended in a 2-2 tie after nine innings.
“I’ve been working at a very casual pace for the last couple months,” Musgrove said. “Overall, I felt pretty good though. My stuff felt good.”
Back where he's meant to be. pic.twitter.com/jJTrRMrQ9v
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 4, 2026Padres manager Craig Stammen, heading into his first season at the helm, said he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen in Peoria with Musgrove throwing simulated innings prior to the exhibition.
“He’s doing really well. Every time I watch him throw I’m expecting his stuff to be down a tick, and it hasn’t been. It’s almost been a little bit better. I know he’s excited to get back on the mound. He’s gotten over a few humps on the backfields and now (is) ready to take it against some other competition.”
For the Padres, a healthy Musgrove could provide a major boost to an unsettled rotation, with only Nick Pivetta and Michael King penned in, Yu Darvish lost for the season and Dylan Cease lost to free agency and the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I don’t expect to make 180-200 innings,” Musgrove said. “But I expect to be able to take the ball throughout the year and be productive.”
Musgrove joined the Padres in 2021 as part of a three-team, seven-player trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In only his second start with San Diego, he threw the first no-hitter in franchise history in April 2021, then earned his first career All-Star selection in 2022. Over 98 appearances with the Padres, he has a 37-24 record with a 3.20 ERA.
“Joe is capable of being the best pitcher in the National League,” Stammen said.
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