Joe Musgrove nears MLB return following Tommy John surgery

San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove is nearing a return to Major League Baseball following Tommy John surgery performed in October 2024. After spending the 2025 season in rehabilitation, Musgrove has completed three minor league rehab starts this August with Single-A Lake Elsinore and Triple-A El Paso.

While his most recent outing with the El Paso Chihuahuas resulted in five runs allowed over 4.1 innings, his velocity has shown significant improvement. Musgrove has been throwing his fastball between 93 and 97 mph, averaging approximately 95 mph in his Triple-A appearances—roughly two mph faster than his average during the 2022–2024 seasons.

Musgrove appears to be relying on his cutter as a primary secondary pitch, though he has yet to fully regain consistency with his curveball. The Padres have not yet confirmed if he will be activated for the upcoming series against the Twins, but he is expected to be ready for action next week.