SAN DIEGO -- At the beginning of September, Joe Musgrove was searching for answers. He wasn’t defeated, but he was as close as one can be to such a feeling. He almost couldn’t put it into words.
It had been nearly two years since he stood on a big league mound after a prolonged rehab from right elbow surgery. He endured a series of demoralizing bumps in his long road back throughout this season, one he was projected to begin as a part of the Padres' Opening Day rotation.
After spending a summer building up with bullpen sessions, making four Minor League rehab starts in August, discussing with the club what his role might be when he returns and all the hitches that plagued him along the way, Musgrove was at his wits’ end. More than anything, the San Diego native yearned to contribute to his hometown team -- to take the Petco Park mound once more.
“I don’t know how to describe the feelings, but part of it is I feel like I was letting the guys down. I’m not holding up my end of the deal,” Musgrove said. “I just put my head down and kept working, I knew this day was going to come. It was just a matter of when.”
After the club spent the last few weeks planning out Musgrove’s role and determining whether a return was feasible, he got his wish.
He was a surprise addition to the Padres’ National League Wild Card Series roster on Tuesday morning as a member of the bullpen.
Later that night, neither Musgrove nor the sold-out Petco Park crowd could’ve asked for a better return party.
Musgrove trotted out from the bullpen to a chorus of deafening cheers in the ninth inning of the Padres’ 8-0 win over the Cubs in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, maintaining the shutout after facing a bases-loaded situation to close out a statement victory. It was his first appearance since Oct. 2, 2024, when Musgrove was lifted early in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Braves due to the elbow injury that sidelined him for nearly 730 days.
Musgrove struck out Michael Busch to begin the frame before three straight Cubs reached to load the bases. After a brief mound visit from Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Musgrove got Pedro Ramírez to pop up to Jake Cronenworth at second, then he struck out Michael Conforto looking on an 85.2 mph curveball at the top of the zone to end it.
He let out a triumphant roar along with the rest of downtown San Diego.
“It was emotional for a lot of people and probably especially Joe,” said manager Craig Stammen. “The fanbase has always loved Joe because he's one of their own, and rightly so, they should. It just worked out tonight that it was a good time to bring him in the game.”
Musgrove became the just the second player to appear in a postseason game after not making an appearance in any game of the two prior regular seasons, and the first since Clyde McCullough in 1945 (who appeared in the World Series after missing all of the 1944-45 regular campaigns due to military service).
“I felt at home out there,” Musgrove said.
He absolutely was.
The Grossmont High School product, who grew up a mere 20-minute drive from Petco Park in nearby El Cajon, spent his childhood rooting for the Padres and later became the first pitcher in franchise history to twirl a no-hitter in 2021, has had many memorable moments in the brown and gold and in this ballpark.
But none were quite like this one.
“I was emotional out there,” said Padres starter Michael King, who pitched seven scoreless innings in the victory. “I never go back out to the field after I'm done pitching, but as soon as I saw him warming up, I had to go back out there to watch it. He means so much to this team and this city. To see the grind of rehab that he's had to go through for two straight years, I mean, it was awesome.”
Musgrove got a rousing ovation during pregame introductions, arguably the loudest of all the Padres reserves who were announced. The way the game played out -- with San Diego jumping out to an early lead while the Cubs struggled just to get baserunners -- it was the perfect runway for Musgrove to make his return official.
When the bullpen door swung open in the ninth, and Musgrove emerged, San Diego rose to its feet and welcomed him home.
“That’s the most nervous I’ve been with an eight-run lead before,” Musgrove said. “It was a great opportunity. I’m just extremely grateful for these guys giving me the opportunity. …
“It was amazing, man. I’m sure coming back in any scenario would feel good, but to come back in a playoff situation with the crowd the way they were tonight at home, it was perfect.”