The San Diego Padres have been anxiously waiting to hear the answer to one of the most pressing questions this season: When will their star pitcher, Joe Musgrove, make his return to the mound?
At last, fans and followers might have a hint to quell their curiosity.
Well, sort of.
In a serendipitous moment captured on video by YouTuber and popular Twitch sensation FaZe Rug, Musgrove was cornered in a restaurant. The chance encounter was filled with excitement as the content creator, a die-hard Padres supporter, inquired directly about Musgrove’s comeback.
Musgrove, a seasoned pitcher known for his roots in El Cajon just a stone’s throw from San Diego, shared that he was about to embark on a rehab stint. While he remained tight-lipped about the exact timeline, he hinted to the streamer that his return is edging closer, saying it’s “within the weeks here.”
It stands to reason that the Padres ace will make it back to the rotation in time for the final postseason push.
Musgrove has been working his way back from having offseason Tommy John Surgery in 2024 and was expected to pitch for San Diego this season.
However, during an exhibition spring training game, Musgrove’s return suffered a major setback after throwing 60 pitches over two-plus innings.
The Padres’ right-handed pitcher then attempted to throw a bullpen session on March 8, but felt some discomfort and was shut down once again.
In July, he began ramping back up, tossing throwing bullpen sessions and was sent out for his first rehab assignment on August 4.
Musgrove has made three starts during his rehab. In his most recent start, Musgrove threw 4 ⅔ innings, striking out five, but allowed nine hits and five runs.
Since the All-Star break, San Diego has played much better baseball. They are 20-12 since the midsummer classic, while sitting in second place in the National League West. The Padres currently hold the final wild card spot with a 67-61 record.
But Musgrove may be needed to hold down that spot. The Arizona Diamondbacks are just one game back, with a slew of others not far behind.