The Padres entered camp like this: Nick Pivetta, michael king and Joe Musgrove I marked the top three rotation points with a pencil. They felt reasonably confident. Randy Vazquez He will assume the fourth starting role. They took a bulk approach for the fifth starter job, signing a handful of veterans and cheap free-agent deals.
Musgrove is returning from Tommy John surgery in 2024, which cost him all of last season. King was limited to 15 starts last year due to shoulder nerve problems and a knee injury. While King has been pitching without restrictions this spring, the Padres are playing more cautiously with Musgrove. As the right-hander’s last pitcher, he threw 60 pitches in an exhibition game against the British World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team on March 4.
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that Musgrove threw one bullpen session last week. The Padres are understandably taking him slowly and have not announced when he will next play. MLB.com’s Acee and AJ Cassavell suggest he may not be fully developed by Opening Day.
A short season-opening injury list doesn’t necessarily mean a setback. The Padres will have to keep an eye on Musgrove’s workload throughout the season. They have two days off during the first eight days of the regular season. This means Musgrove could theoretically make do with a four-man rotation if he has at least some IL time. The more likely outcome is that they turn to one of their depth starters to fill out their five-man starting staff.
This can provide opportunities to: Walker BuehlerThis person is at the camp by invitation from a non-corps group. If there’s only one rotation point available, you’ll likely go next. Herman Marquez. Márquez signed a big league contract and is guaranteed $1.75 million. He’ll make the team, and the Padres don’t have the bullpen roster flexibility to use him as a long reliever.
Buehler can opt out at the end of Spring Training if the Padres don’t add him to the roster. Buehler made two starts this spring. He allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings with a solid 6:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Marquez allowed three runs over five frames while recording five punchouts with no walks. Marco GonzalezIn camp, where he signed a minor league contract, he gave up five runs despite striking out eight over 7 2/3 innings. JP Sears Although he’s on the 40-man roster, he’s had a rough spring and has minor league options remaining, so he’ll likely get a ticket to Triple-A El Paso regardless of Musgrove’s status.
