MLB pitcher Joe Musgrove made history Tuesday night, returning to the mound after nearly two years away to help the San Diego Padres defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-0 in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Musgrove entered the game in the ninth inning and immediately made an impact. The 33-year-old right-hander struck out two batters to help secure the shutout victory and give San Diego a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
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His appearance was historic because Musgrove became the first player in MLB history to appear in sequential postseason games in different seasons without making a regular-season appearance between them.
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Sep 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove (44) runs to the mound during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Musgrove had not pitched in a major league game since Oct. 2, 2024, when he appeared for the Padres against the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the 2024 Wild Card Series.
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He pitched 3⅔ innings in that game, allowing one run before leaving in the fourth inning because of an elbow injury. The injury ultimately sidelined him for more than 700 days.
Nearly two years later, Musgrove returned to the postseason stage without appearing in a regular-season game in between. His comeback provided San Diego with a memorable moment as the Padres closed out a dominant opening-game victory.
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Musgrove also became just the second player in MLB history to appear in a postseason game after missing the previous two regular seasons entirely.
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The only other player to accomplish that feat was Clyde McCullough in 1945. McCullough missed the 1944 and 1945 regular seasons while serving in the military before returning to appear in the postseason.
Musgrove’s return now joins that rare piece of baseball history, while his performance gives the Padres an important advantage in the Wild Card Series.
San Diego and Chicago will meet again Wednesday for Game 2. The Padres need just one more victory to eliminate the Cubs and advance to the National League Division Series.
After nearly two years away from the majors, Musgrove has already made his return one to remember.
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