Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove: A Return That Could Steady the Padres’ Rotation
PEORIA, Ariz. — On a sun-washed field at the Peoria Sports Complex, Joe Musgrove took the mound for the first time since a torn UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery, while manny machado remained a recurring name threaded through the pregame conversation. Seventeen months after surgery, Musgrove’s outing was both a milestone and a reminder: recovery can deliver hope without instant certainty.
Can Musgrove stabilize the Padres’ rotation?
Padres manager Craig Stammen framed the question plainly: “Joe’s capable of being the best pitcher in the National League. ” Stammen tempered that optimism with realism, acknowledging that spectacular post-surgery seasons are possible but not guaranteed. Musgrove threw 60 pitches, 36 for strikes, over an extended outing against Great Britain — a measured return that allowed coaches and teammates to see him compete off a repaired elbow.
Musgrove spoke in similarly pragmatic terms about expectations. “I’ve talked to a lot of guys that say they don’t feel normal or don’t feel back to themselves (until) about that two-year mark, ” he said, noting he plans to take the ball every fifth day and monitor recovery closely. He added that he does not expect to reach 180–200 innings this season but does expect to be able to take the ball consistently and be productive.
What did Musgrove show in his first outing?
The outing offered concrete signs of both progress and work to be done. Musgrove’s fastball registered just over 94 mph on average in one account, and he struck out major-league caliber hitters with a mix of heater, cutter and curve. On the scoreboard he allowed one run on five hits in an exhibition that ended in a 2–2 tie after nine innings. He described the day as “another step, ” and said his stuff felt good even if command wasn’t yet where he wanted it.
Those glimpses matter because the broader history of Tommy John recoveries is mixed. The context around recent seasons includes pitchers who returned to All-Star form and others who struggled to match previous production: names connected to both outcomes appear in the conversation, underscoring how unpredictable recovery trajectories can be. For the Padres, a healthy, competitive Musgrove could be the linchpin that steadies a staff still finding definition.
Manny Machado: How does the infield picture connect to a pitching comeback?
The pregame commentary that day linked Musgrove’s return to wider roster conversations, naming other high-profile players as part of the club’s outlook. Stammen’s comments about Musgrove were offered in the same set of remarks that referenced infield and lineup considerations, illustrating how a rotation’s stability is tied to the team’s larger identity and expectations.
For a rotation that has pockets of uncertainty, Musgrove’s ability to take the ball consistently would ripple across clubhouse planning. Stammen’s vote of confidence — paired with Musgrove’s cautious, step-by-step approach to recovery — frames a path that is promising but deliberate.
Where does the team go from here?
Musgrove and the Padres will continue to build workload and monitor responses. The manager emphasized process over prediction, and Musgrove emphasized gradual progress: checking boxes, building up and taking each start as it comes. That posture reflects a broader patience required by Tommy John recoveries, which can produce late surges as well as stubborn setbacks.
Back on the Peoria mound as the shadows lengthened, Musgrove gathered his gear and spoke of competing again. The field that began the day as a proving ground closed the circle on a visible, incomplete comeback — one that offers hope to teammates and fans while leaving open the central question of how quickly, and how fully, he will reclaim his peak. As attention turns to the regular season and familiar names such as manny machado reappear in roster conversations, the club’s immediate forecast still depends on the next starts from a right arm repaired but not yet declared whole.
