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Padres' Joe Musgrove: Throws 53 pitches in rehab start
Rotowire
Musgrove (elbow) completed 3.1 innings in a minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out two batters.
It was Musgrove's second rehab outing as he sets his sights on pitching for the big-league club for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of 2024. The veteran right-hander tossed 39 pitches in his first rehab start Aug. 4, so he's gradually building up his pitch count in preparation for a return to a spot in San Diego's rotation. Musgrove is likely to need at least one more rehab outing before being activated, but he could be back with the Padres by the end of August, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.
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Padres' Joe Musgrove: Completes 39-pitch rehab start
Rotowire
Musgrove (elbow) struck out three and allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks across 2.2 innings in a rehab start Tuesday at Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Musgrove tossed 39 pitches in the appearance, his first in the majors or minors since Sept. 26, 2024. The right-hander was deemed fully recovered from his October 2024 Tommy John surgery heading into spring training, but he experienced a setback after pitching in an exhibition game in early March. Musgrove made limited progress in the first few months following the setback but appeared to turn a corner in June and has now reached the final step of his lengthy recovery process. He'll likely continue to build on his workload over at least two or three more rehab starts before potentially slotting into the San Diego rotation at some point during the final two weeks of August.
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Padres' Joe Musgrove: Ready to kick off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Musgrove (elbow) is slated to make a rehab appearance for Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024 and then suffering a setback in the spring when he experienced inflammation in his right elbow, Musgrove finally appears to be closing in on making his first appearance for the Padres in just under two years. Along with Musgrove, Nick Pivetta (forearm) -- who has been on the shelf since April 14 -- is also scheduled to kick off his rehab assignment Tuesday with Lake Elsinore. Given the length of his absence, Musgrove is expected to need most of his 30-day rehab window to get fully stretched out for a spot in the San Diego rotation, so he may not be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list until late August or early September.
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Padres' Joe Musgrove: Facing live hitters
Rotowire
Musgrove (elbow) threw 23 pitches in live batting practice Friday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Friday's session was shorter than the 30-to-40-pitch bullpen session he logged last Friday, but it still marks a significant step forward, as it's the first time he's faced live hitters since spring training. He's scheduled to throw against hitters again sometime next week and will likely do so a few more times before beginning an extended rehab assignment.
Padres manager Craig Stammen said that Musgrove (elbow) threw approximately 30-to-40 pitches in a two-inning simulated bullpen session Friday at the organization's complex in Arizona, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Stammen said Musgrove came out of the session feeling healthy, but the veteran right-hander still has several checkpoints to hit in the rehab process before getting cleared to make his 2026 debut. Musgrove missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from the Tommy John surgery that he underwent the previous October, then dealt with cartilage issues this spring that have continued to keep him on the shelf throughout the campaign. After months of limited progress, Musgrove seems to have turned a corner in his recovery, but he'll likely need at least another month to finish out his throwing progression and complete an extended rehab assignment before making his return from the 60-day injured list.
Musgrove (elbow) started playing catch in late May, per MLB.com.
After making one appearance during spring training in early March, Musgrove experienced inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow. He continued to play catch but was then shut down from even that amount of throwing. Musgrove has since been cleared to resume light throwing, but he doesn't appear to be anywhere near game action. He isn't expected to be ready to join the Padres until after the All-Star break.
Musgrove (elbow) is slated to begin a throwing program soon and is targeting a return after the All-Star break, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Early in spring training, there was hope that Musgrove would be ready for the beginning of the campaign, as he appeared to be in the final stages of his rehab from Tommy John surgery. However, the right-handed hurler didn't recover well after throwing two innings in an exhibition contest in early March, and that ended up being his only game action of the spring. Musgrove has essentially been shut down since, so he'll likely need a lengthy ramp-up when he does ultimately begin throwing again. Fantasy managers who have hung on to Musgrove -- presumably in an IL slot -- should note that he isn't expecting to return before the All-Star break when weighing whether to continue rostering him.
The Padres transferred Musgrove (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
The Padres added Luis Campusano to the 10-day injured list and selected Rodolfo Duran from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday as part of corresponding moves. Musgrove has been progressing slowly in his attempt to return from the Tommy John surgery he had in late 2024.
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