LOS ANGELES – In a heart-wrenching announcement, the San Diego Padres revealed that their star pitcher Joe Musgrove will undergo Tommy John surgery due to an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, ruling him out for the upcoming National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Padres president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, confirmed the severity of Musgrove's condition on Friday. The recovery process from such a procedure typically spans 12 to 18 months, which suggests that the 31-year-old right-hander could potentially miss the entire 2025 MLB season.

"I'm devastated about not being able to finish what we started," a clearly emotional Musgrove shared from the dugout. "It's just about coming to grips that this is it for me."

Musgrove's injury is not an isolated incident; he joins a concerning list of pitchers across Major League Baseball who have suffered similar UCL injuries this season, notably including Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, and Toronto’s Alek Manoah.

The concerning situation escalated when Musgrove exited Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series with elbow tightness. He began to struggle even during the game, throwing two slow curveballs that put him behind 2-1 against Atlanta’s Matt Olson with two outs in the fourth inning. This prompted multiple visits from coaching staff and trainers, and ultimately led to his departure from the game.

"If you're not a pitcher, it's very difficult to explain," Musgrove reflected. "I just had a hard time getting full extension and letting pitches go. There wasn't a whole lot of confidence behind it at that point."

Prior to this, Musgrove had been battling elbow discomfort for weeks, having utilized two stints on the injured list this season solely due to right elbow inflammation, which saw him sidelined for a combined total of 63 games. His second stint kept him on the bench for 2.5 months, but he had managed to post an impressive 2.17 ERA over 54 innings since August 12.

"I was told over the summer that there was some damage and that it was just a matter of time," he explained. "I thought I could manage it. Physically, I felt capable, but the intensity of the pain escalated in recent weeks."

In a search for understanding, Musgrove stated he plans to connect with other players who have experienced Tommy John surgery to learn more about the road ahead. This intricate procedure involves replacing an injured ligament in the elbow with a tendon from another part of the body.

"I want to have the surgery as soon as possible," he mentioned earnestly. "In the meantime, I'm going to support my teammates in every way I can."

Losing Musgrove is undoubtedly a significant blow for the Padres. The El Cajon native holds a special place in the hearts of Padres fans, famously throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history in 2021.

Preller acknowledged Musgrove’s importance to the team, stating, "We're definitely not here if it's not for Joe Musgrove."

Despite this setback, Padres manager Mike Shildt remains optimistic. "He’s a special individual, but I can tell you we’ll be just fine and compete," he added. "He'll always be in our hearts, even though he won’t be on the mound with us."

As the team gears up for Game 1 against the Dodgers, right-hander Dylan Cease will take the starting role, with Yu Darvish slated to follow in Game 2.

"He's a great leader, great teammate," Cease praised Musgrove. "He'll be with us in other ways."

This unforeseen hurdle raises crucial questions about the Padres' pitching strategy moving forward, as they aim to navigate the postseason without one of their key players. Stay tuned for updates and more in this developing story!