Padres news: Craig Stammen sums up Joe Musgrove's 'emotional' return in Game 1
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Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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After missing the entirety of the 2025 and 2026 MLB seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024, Joe Musgrove made his triumphant return to the mound for the San Diego Padres — in the postseason, no less. Musgrove made four rehab starts in the minors this year but wasn’t able to return in time before the start of the postseason.
Nonetheless, the Padres brought him back for their postseason roster and even sent him to the mound for the ninth inning of their 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. He threw a shutout inning, and while he did allow two hits and one walk, he also struck out two batters.
But perhaps more importantly, Musgrove elicited a ton of cheers from the crowd over at Petco Park when he made his way to the mound for the Padres. After all, it’s been nearly two years since he last pitched in the major leagues (on October 2, 2024 in the playoffs, a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round).
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The circumstances lined up for the Padres to be able to bring Musgrove off the bullpen comfortably. And manager Craig Stammen recognized just how much having the 33-year-old appear, even for just an inning, would give the team, and even Musgrove himself, an emotional boost.
“It was emotional for a lot of people, probably especially Joe. The fanbase has always loved Joe because he’s one of their own,” Stammen said, per Darnay Tripp of NBC San Diego. “For Joe to finish that game is awesome, good to cap it off. And now he’s back in the fold.”
The job is not done for the Padres; they will be heading to the road for a difficult Game 2 against a Cubs team that will be raring to put their ugly loss in Game 1 in the rearview mirror. But as far as the mental and emotional warfare goes, the Padres are in a commanding position, thanks in no small part to Musgrove’s involvement.
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