Joe Musgrove

Musgrove was born on December 4, 1992, in El Cajon, California, to Mark and Diane Musgrove. He has one brother and two sisters.{{cite news |last1=Strain |first1=Todd |title=No-No Joe: Everything You Need To Know About San Diego Padres No-Hit Pitcher Joe Musgrove |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/no-no-joe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-san-diego-padres-no-hit-pitcher-joe-musgrove/2573414/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=NBC 7 San Diego |date=April 10, 2021}} Mark, a lifelong baseball fan, originally supported the San Francisco Giants but became a San Diego Padres fan after the team was created in 1969.{{cite news |last1=Acee |first1=Kevin |title=Padres a Musgrove family fan affair |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-03-27/padres-joe-musgrove-mark-fans-family-san-diego-grossmont-high-school |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=March 27, 2021}} He was frequently busy, working as a police officer and private investigator in San Diego, California, so Diane played catch with a young Musgrove in their front yard. Musgrove began participating in baseball tournaments at the age of seven, where he was often physically larger than his teammates.{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Adam |title=Musgrove's mom the 'big strength' of family |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-mom-key-part-of-his-career |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=May 8, 2020}} Additionally, Musgrove took pitching lessons with distant relative Dominick Johnson, the son of Major League Baseball (MLB) player Deron Johnson. Johnson taught Musgrove a series of intense workouts designed in the 1970s by former Philadelphia Phillies trainer Gus Hoefling.{{cite news |last1=Moura |first1=Pedro |title=San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove hoping to lead hometown team to title |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/joe-musgrove-san-diego-padres-no-hitter-world-series-hometown-kid-pedro-moura |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=FOX Sports MLB |date=May 7, 2021}}

Musgrove attended Grossmont High School in El Cajon, where he emerged as a strong two-way player during his junior season, playing alongside future Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Steven Brault.{{cite web |title=Uncut Interview: Pirates Joe Musgrove & Steven Brault |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujpW5Xr_ZLY |access-date=January 2, 2023 |work=CBS Pittsburgh on YouTube |date=March 13, 2018}} As a pitcher in 2010, Musgrove boasted an 11–1 win–loss record with five saves, a 2.07 earned run average (ERA), and 70 strikeouts in {{frac|77|2|3}} innings pitched. As a batter, he also had a .430 batting average, with nine home runs and 35 runs batted in (RBIs). The following year, his record fell to 7–5, but Musgrove recorded a 2.40 ERA and 100 strikeouts in {{frac|78|2|3}} innings while hitting .350 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs.{{cite news |last1=Kenney |first1=Kirk |title=Joe Musgrove's coach at Grossmont High enjoys historic night, recalls prep career |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-04-12/san-diego-padres-joe-musgrove-no-hitter-grossmont-high-coach-jim-earley-foothillers |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=April 12, 2021}}

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Musgrove out of high school in the first round, 46th overall, of the 2011 MLB Draft. At the time, he had committed to play college baseball for San Diego State but chose to forgo that commitment in order to sign with the Blue Jays.{{cite news |last1=Dickens |first1=Bill |title=Grossmont pitcher drafted early by Toronto |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sdut-grossmont-pitcher-drafted-early-toronto-2011jun06-story.html |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=June 6, 2011}} He played eight games with the Rookie Gulf Coast League Blue Jays before being moved to the other Rookie affiliate, the Bluefield Blue Jays, in late August.{{cite news |last1=Woodson |first1=Brian |title=Pitchers armed and ready for season |url=https://www.bdtonline.com/sports/local_sports/pitchers-armed-and-ready-for-season/article_eac85f82-2616-5e2c-8875-2c98e8559484.html |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph |date=June 18, 2012}} In a combined nine games and {{frac|24|2|3}} innings for the two teams, Musgrove posted a 1–1 record in 2011, with a 4.01 ERA and 18 strikeouts.{{cite web |title=Joe Musgrove Minor League Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=musgro000joe |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 25, 2021}} He began with Bluefield in 2012, recording a 1.13 ERA and nine strikeouts in eight innings.

File:Joe Musgrove on August 18, 2016.jpg]]

On July 20, 2012, Musgrove was part of a massive 10-player trade between the Blue Jays and the Houston Astros. He was traded to Houston alongside major league players Francisco Cordero and Ben Francisco, minor league prospects Asher Wojciechowski, David Rollins, and Carlos Pérez, and a player to be named later, in exchange for J. A. Happ, Brandon Lyon, and David Carpenter.{{cite news |title=Astros make 10 player trade with Toronto |url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-make-10-player-trade-with-toronto/c-35238954 |access-date=July 6, 2015 |work=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=July 20, 2012}} The player to be named later was eventually named as pitching prospect Kevin Comer.{{cite news |title=Blue Jays send Comer to Astros to complete swap |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/36795536/ |access-date=August 16, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830132514/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/36795536 |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |url-status=dead}} Houston assigned Musgrove to the Greeneville Astros, where he went 0–1 with a 7.00 ERA in four games and nine innings.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Wayne |title=Four Players From The World Series Champion Houston Astros Began Their Professional Baseball Careers In Greeneville |url=https://www.greenevillesun.com/greeneville/four-players-from-the-world-series-champion-houston-astros-began-their-professional-baseball-careers-in/article_30a25d47-1a73-575d-bb28-7d8f752a500f.html |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=The Greeneville Sun |date=November 6, 2017}} He spent the entirety of the 2013 season with the Gulf Coast League Astros, going 1–3 with a 4.41 ERA in {{frac|32|2|3}} innings and 11 games.

A series of injuries throughout his minor league career kept Musgrove from breaking out of the Rookie Leagues until 2014, when he was assigned to the Low–A Tri-City ValleyCats.{{cite news |last1=Amato |first1=Laura |title=After rough start to his pro career, things falling into place for Joe Musgrove |url=https://www.troyrecord.com/sports/after-rough-start-to-his-pro-career-things-falling-into-place-for-joe-musgrove/article_3077dd27-d550-563e-aaf4-0267b1ae3a41.html |access-date=July 6, 2015 |work=The Record |date=July 21, 2014 |location=Troy, NY}} He missed two months of the 2012 season due to a strained rotator cuff, and spent the majority of the 2013 season on the sidelines with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament.{{cite news |last1=Koehler |first1=Jess |title=Healthy 'Cat gets to fulfill a dream |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Healthy-Cat-gets-to-fulfill-a-dream-5670668.php |access-date=July 6, 2015 |work=Times Union |date=August 5, 2014 |location=Albany, NY}} An injury to his sternoclavicular joint continued to bother Musgrove during his time with the ValleyCats, and he made only a handful of appearances. In the 77 innings that he did pitch, Musgrove posted a 7–1 record with a 2.81 ERA and 67 strikeouts, as well as 0.96 walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP).{{cite news |last1=Makarewicz |first1=Daniel |title=Finally healthy, Bandits hurler Musgrove eyes big season |url=https://qconline.com/sports/finally-healthy-bandits-hurler-musgrove-eyes-big-season/article_451f6b24-2ef8-5c68-9136-084d0f739430.html |access-date=July 6, 2015 |work=The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus |date=April 8, 2015}}

Musgrove started the 2015 season with the Single–A Quad Cities River Bandits, with whom he posted a 4–1 record and a 0.70 ERA in five games.{{cite news |last1=Booker |first1=Roy |title=Mini Ask the Times: River Bandits on World Series rosters |url=https://qctimes.com/news/local/mini-ask-the-times-river-bandits-on-world-series-rosters/article_97f15006-bfe5-11e7-bc6a-173b6d1dc290.html |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=Quad-City Times |date=November 2, 2017}} He received two promotions that season: first, in May, to the High-A Lancaster JetHawks, and then again in June to the [[Double A (baseball)|Double

–A]] Corpus Christi Hooks.{{cite news |last1=Brents |first1=Phillip |title=All-Star Futures Game proves showcase for former Foothiller standout Musgrove |url=https://eccalifornian.com/all-star-futures-game-proves-showcase-for-former-foothiller-standout-musgrove/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=The East County Californian |date=July 13, 2016}} Musgrove went 12–1 for the season across all three teams, with a 1.88 ERA and 99 strikeouts in {{frac|100|2|3}} innings. He was named the Astros' 2015 Minor League Pitcher of the Year and was added to the 40-man roster in November so that he could be protected from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite news |title=Astros add five players to 40-man roster |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/astros/2015/11/20/astros-add-five-players-40-man-roster/76114108/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=November 20, 2015}}

After beginning 2016 with Corpus Christi, Musgrove was promoted to the Triple–A Fresno Grizzlies on May 13, 2016. After a strong start to his time in Fresno, recording a 2.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts by mid-July, Musgrove was selected as the starting pitcher for the United States Team at the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. He retired all three World Team batters he faced on only 11 pitches. Musgrove went 5–3 for the season in Fresno, with a 3.81 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 59 innings.

Musgrove was recalled by the Astros from Fresno on August 1, 2016. In 16 games between Corpus Christi and Fresno prior to his promotion, he was 7–4 with a 2.74 ERA.{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=605397#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL |title=Joe Musgrove Stats, Highlights, Bio |website=MiLB.com |access-date=June 8, 2018}} He made his major league debut on August 2 versus the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out eight over {{fraction|4|1|3}} innings while only allowing one hit. His first Major League strikeout victim was Edwin Encarnación. He spent the remainder of the season with the Astros, going 4–4 with a 4.06 ERA over 11 games (10 starts). Musgrove began 2017 with Houston and spent the majority of the season there, pitching only one game with Fresno. In 38 games (15 starts) for the Astros in 2017, he was 7–8 with a 4.77 ERA.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

File:Joe Musgrove in 2017.jpg

In the postseason, he appeared in seven games, including four World Series games. In four innings pitched, he allowed three hits and three runs but threw a scoreless top of the 10th inning of Game 5 against the Dodgers where he was the winning pitcher. The series concluded after 7 games with the Astros winning the title.{{cite web|last1=McTaggart|first1=Brian|last2=Gurnick|first2=Ken|title=Houston Astros win 2017 World Series|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-beat-dodgers-to-win-first-world-series-c260380704|publisher=MLB|access-date=November 2, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012212/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260380704/astros-beat-dodgers-to-win-first-world-series/|url-status=live}} Three years later, it was revealed in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal that the Astros had cheated during the 2017 season. Musgrove subsequently said he thought the team's championship was "tainted" because of this.Mackey, Jason. [https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/02/11/joe-musgrove-astros-sign-stealing-mlb/stories/202002110114 "Joe Musgrove: Sign stealing more than an Astros issue"]. post-gazette.com. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.

File:Joe Musgrove in 2019 (Cropped).jpg

On January 13, 2018, the Astros traded Musgrove, along with Michael Feliz, Colin Moran and Jason Martin, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Gerrit Cole.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-land-gerrit-cole-in-trade-with-pirates/c-264677578|title=Astros land Cole in 5-player deal with Pirates|work=mlb.com|date=January 13, 2018|access-date=January 13, 2018|first=Brian|last=McTaggart}} He began the season on the disabled list and was activated on May 25, joining the starting rotation. Pitching against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 30, 2018, Musgrove began the game by throwing 21 consecutive strikes, the most by a major league pitcher to start a game since 1988.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/video/musgroves-21-straight-strikes/c-2445775783|title=Musgrove's 21 straight strikes|work=mlb.com|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018}} This included eight swinging strikes, six called strikes, two foul balls and five balls in play where the batter was put out by the Pirates fielders.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/pirates-vs-cardinals/2018/08/30/531415#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=play-by-play,game=531415|title=Cardinals 5, Pirates 0|work=mlb.com|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018}} In 19 starts, he finished with a record of 6–9 in {{frac|115|1|3}} innings.

In 2019, his left-on-base percentage of 63.2% was the worst in the majors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2019&month=0&season1=2019&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2019-01-01&enddate=2019-12-31&sort=13,a|title=Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Pitchers » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball|website=www.fangraphs.com}} In 2020 for the Pirates, Musgrove recorded a 1–5 record and 3.86 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyblengino/2021/01/20/new-san-diego-padre-joe-musgrove-was-much-better-than-his-2020-numbers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120140041/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyblengino/2021/01/20/new-san-diego-padre-joe-musgrove-was-much-better-than-his-2020-numbers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2021|title=New San Diego Padres Pitcher Joe Musgrove Was Much Better Than His 2020 Numbers Might Suggest|first=Tony|last=Blengino|website=Forbes}}

File:Joe Musgrove throws a pitch, Oct 09 2022 (cropped).jpg]]

On January 19, 2021, the Pirates traded Musgrove to his hometown San Diego Padres in a three-team trade that sent David Bednar, Omar Cruz, Drake Fellows, Hudson Head, and Endy Rodríguez to the Pirates and Joey Lucchesi to the New York Mets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-padres-trade|title=Musgrove to Padres in 3-team trade|website=MLB.com}}

The 2021 season proved to be a breakout campaign for Musgrove, as he posted career bests in several categories, including ERA, WHIP, batting average against, strikeouts, innings pitched, and win/loss record. On April 9, 2021, Musgrove threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, the first no-hitter in the Padres' 52-year history (the Padres were the last of the 30 active MLB teams without a no-hitter at the time). He threw 77 of 112 pitches for strikes and struck out 10 batters; a fourth-inning hit by pitch to Joey Gallo prevented Musgrove from achieving a perfect game.{{cite web |title=Musgrove throws first no-hitter in Padres history |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31225903/joe-musgrove-throws-first-no-hitter-san-diego-padres-history-texas-rangers |website=ESPN |language=en |date=April 10, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=delos Santos |first1=Justice |title=Musgrove makes history, spins SD's 1st no-no |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-throws-padres-first-no-hitter |website=MLB.com |language=en |date=April 9, 2021}} In 2021, Musgrove posted an 11–9 record with a 3.18 ERA and 203 strikeouts in {{frac|181|1|3}} innings. He led the Padres' starting rotation in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.

On August 1, 2022, the Padres announced that they had signed Musgrove to a five-year contract extension worth $100 million.{{cite web | title=Padres make 5-year extension with Musgrove official |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-joe-musgrove-extension?five-year |website=MLB.com |language=en |date=August 1, 2022}}

Musgrove followed up his 2021 campaign with a strong season in 2022, recording a career-best 2.93 ERA over 181 innings pitched, the lowest ERA among the Padres starting rotation that season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/musgrjo01.shtml|title=Joe Musgrove Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 12, 2022}} 21 of Musgrove's 30 starts in 2022 were quality starts, and Musgrove had the 9th-lowest ERA among qualified NL starting pitchers. Musgrove pitched the third game of the 2022 NL Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, holding the Mets scoreless over seven innings while allowing only two baserunners.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN202210090.shtml|title=2022 National League Wild Card Series (NLWC) Game 3, Padres at Mets, October 9|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 12, 2022}} Musgrove pitched the fourth game of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and earned the win in the series-clinching game, holding the Dodgers to two runs over six innings despite allowing nine baserunners.{{cite web|url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN202210150.shtml|title=2022 National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 4, Dodgers at Padres, October 15|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 17, 2022}}

Musgrove made 17 starts for the Padres in 2023, registering a 10–3 record and 3.05 ERA with 97 strikeouts across {{fraction|97|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Joe Musgrove 2023 pitching Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/34848/year/2023/category/pitching|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=espn.com|language=en}} His season ended in late July, as a result of right shoulder capsule inflammation.{{Cite web|title=Padres drop the curtain on Musgrove's season|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-shut-down-for-2023-after-shoulder-injury|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

Musgrove began the 2024 campaign out of San Diego's rotation, compiling a 3–4 record and 5.66 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 10 starts. He was placed on the injured list with a bone spur in his pitching elbow on June 1, 2024,{{Cite web|title=Padres' Joe Musgrove: Elbow issues return|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-joe-musgrove-elbow-issues-return/|access-date=June 28, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=June 2024 |language=en}} and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 28.{{Cite web|title=Padres Select Austin Davis|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/padres-to-select-austin-davis.html|access-date=June 28, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 28, 2024 |language=en}} Musgrove was activated on August 12.{{Cite web|title=Padres Designate Carl Edwards Jr. For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/padres-designate-carl-edwards-jr-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 12, 2024 |language=en}} On October 2, Musgrove was pulled from a Wild Card series start against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning with what was initially reported as elbow tightness. Two days later, he was diagnosed with a torn UCL. He will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2025 season.{{cite web | last=Sheldon | first=Mark | title=Joe Musgrove to undergo Tommy John surgery | website=MLB.com | date=2024-10-04 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-out-of-2024-nlds-with-elbow-injury | access-date=2024-11-10}}

On December 5, 2022, Musgrove became a world record holder after throwing an 86-mph fastball in Antarctica. The feat became the fastest pitch thrown in the coldest continent on Earth and was done in support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation.{{cite web | last=Cassavell | first=AJ | title=Joe Musgrove throws fastball on Antarctica | website=MLB.com | date=2022-12-05 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-musgrove-throws-fastball-on-antarctica | access-date=2024-11-10}}

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• {{Twitter|ItsbuccnJoe59|Joe Musgrove}}

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Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball players from El Cajon, California

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Category:Grossmont High School alumni