Joe Musgrove joins Padres' Wild Card Series roster

Veteran right-hander Joe Musgrove has been added to the San Diego Padres' 26-man roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. This marks Musgrove's return to major league action nearly two years after his last appearance on October 2, 2024.

Musgrove's absence was due to a right elbow injury sustained during a previous Wild Card Series victory over Atlanta, which required Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2025 and 2026 regular seasons due to a slow recovery process. Following rehab appearances in Triple-A and recent instructional league games, the Padres' management decided to activate him based on his velocity, movement, and arm recovery.

Manager Craig Stammen expressed high trust in Musgrove, noting his importance to the clubhouse. General manager AJ Preller also highlighted Musgrove's dedication to his recovery throughout the extended rehabilitation period.