When the San Diego Padres traded for Joe Musgrove three years ago, they were bringing him home to star for his hometown team.
He has embraced the responsibility and supplied the franchise with its first no-hitter, two memorable playoff performances, and undeniable leadership.
Heading into this season, Musgrove is tasked with leading a starting rotation that returns only him and Yu Darvish.
Expectations for the Padres are considerably lower than they were a year ago this time, but Musgrove has to remain healthy for them to meet any of their projections. His season ended early last year due to shoulder capsule inflammation and limited to fewer than 100 innings.
For Musgrove, the Padres need to move on from 2023 and discover who they are in 2024.
“I think we need to do a better job of identifying what our identity is as a team from the get-go of spring training. It felt like we had expectations of ourselves as a group, and it wasn’t talked about openly and out loud enough for everybody to understand what that was. We found ourselves in a little bit of a hole early on, and trying to find your identity when your back’s against the wall is a little difficult. So, I think we need to set the tone early on in spring training and figure out what the standards are here and make sure everyone’s on the same page.”
Musgrove knows what his identity is. He spent the offseason organizing team get-togethers in San Diego which included a minicamp for pitchers and catchers last month. He also initiated conversations with newcomers like Michael King, Randy Vasquéz, and Yuki Matsui.
However long it takes for the Padres to figure out what their new identity is, there will be one constant variable. Musgrove is the glue that will hold this squad together through the highs and the lows.
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