Padres Arms Carson Montgomery, Tucker Musgrove On Comeback Trail
The Padres’ deadline dealings moved eight minor league pitchers out of the organization. Two 23-year-old righthanders from the 2023 draft are beginning to help replenish system depth.
Both Tucker Musgrove and Carson Montgomery continued to take steps forward in the Arizona Fall League after spending the regular season building back from Tommy John surgeries.
Montgomery, an 11th-round pick out of Florida State, works as a starter. Musgrove, a seventh-rounder out of Mobile, pitches relief.
The Padres drafted Musgrove as a two-way player, but plans to bring him along as hitter were scrapped when he required an elbow reconstruction shortly after the draft. He missed all of 2024 and then made his pro debut this year with 20 innings for Low-A Lake Elsinore.
Musgrove’s stuff is really what’s intriguing. He pairs a 97-99 mph fastball with elite extension of 6 feet, 9 inches. He throws a mid-80s sweeper and a seldom-used curveball, giving him a reliever look.
“The biggest focus right now is on the health aspect and getting him back pitching,” Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly said. “We’re excited with how he finished the year and excited how he’s doing in the Fall League.”
Montgomery ran up a 5.60 ERA in three seasons at FSU, but area scout John Martin was on him going back to his days as a Florida prep.
Montgomery threw just seven innings for Lake Elsinore in 2024 before requiring Tommy John surgery. His return to the mound in late August has included stops in unofficial bridge league games, fall instructional league and later the AFL.
He throws a 94 mph two-seam fastball, a mid-80s sweeper and a changeup he’ll show to lefties, though his command was continuing to come back from surgeyr.
“The big thing is this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to evaluate him,” Daly said. “. . . It’s a big win getting him (into the AFL). He’ll come into 2026 as a starter in A-ball and go forward.”
FATHER FIGURES
— Catcher Ethan Salas was removed from the Arizona Fall League as the Padres continue to slow play the recovery from the back injury that ended his season in April at Double-A San Antonio. The team insists that the 19-year-old has not had a setback and is expected to be ready for spring training.
