Padres receive encouraging Joe Musgrove injury update

The San Diego Padres have had a strong first third of the 2026 MLB season, currently sitting at 31-22 despite a recent home loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Padres are 2.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lead the NL West division with a record of 34-20.

The Padres have had some tough luck on the injury front this year, and are still waiting on the season debut of Joe Musgrove, who missed the entire 2025 season and is still on the injured list currently as the 2026 campaign progresses.

Recently, the team got a relatively encouraging update from MLB.com regarding Musgrove’s status.

“(Musgrove) was hopeful for an early-season return but experienced a setback after making one start in Spring Training. Could be nearing the start of a throwing progression,” reported the publication.

At one point, Musgrove was a key member of the Padres’ rotation, having been traded there from the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2021 MLB season. He signed a five-year extension worth $100 million with San Diego back in 2022.

In 2024, he had started to see a decline in his numbers, also battling with various injuries, but returned to make a start against the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. However, he experienced elbow discomfort during that game and was later diagnosed with a torn UCL, which required the Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of last year.

It certainly makes sense that the Padres would not want to rush Musgrove in his return, considering the severity of the injury and the setbacks he has already reportedly experienced.

The Padres will next take the field on Tuesday for another game against the Phillies.