MIAMI — Joe Musgrove is nearing a return to the mound. The Pirates' right-handed starting pitcher is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday in Philadelphia — his first workout on a mound since being placed on the 10-day disabled list on April 2.
Musgrove, who made only three starts in spring training because he experienced right shoulder discomfort prior to his first live batting practice in February, is scheduled to pitch off the front of the mound Tuesday and will progress to the rubber barring any setbacks.
The 25-year-old has only played catch and thrown on flat ground since pitching six innings of a minor-league game at Pirate City on March 31. He was expected to start during the Pirates' second series at PNC Park against the Reds; however, he was placed on the disabled list hours before the home opener because of a shoulder strain.
"Ultimately, I haven’t been in much of a rush to get on the mound," Musgrove said Sunday morning at Marlins Park. "I’ve been battling this thing for a while now. I feel like I might have tried to rush back a little early. I was feeling good, and I think I increased the intensity a little too quick. This time around I want to make sure I’m getting it right. … It does feel good I’ll be on the mound soon."
This was the second time in less than a year Musgrove was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He spent 13 days on the DL last May with right shoulder discomfort but made 28 more appearances for the Astros the rest of the season.
Musgrove allowed nine earned runs in 11 2/3 innings for the Pirates this spring, recording a 1.54 WHIP and 6.94 ERA. His command was shaky at times, particularly with his breaking pitches, but he showed progress in his final start by allowing just one earned run in five innings against the Blue Jays.
He and Colin Moran were the centerpieces of the five-player trade in January that sent Cole to the Astros, but the former first-round pick has a poor track record as a starter in the major leagues. Musgrove had a 1.44 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 31 1/3 innings in relief for the Astros last season. On the other hand, he had a 6.12 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 78 innings as a starter.
Steven Brault, a left-hander, took Musgrove's spot in the rotation and has a 4.50 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 10 innings as a starter after pitching three scoreless innings in relief during the Pirates' season-opening, extra-inning win over the Tigers in Detroit. Although the Pirates' middle relief has struggled, Neal Huntington told reporters last week at PNC Park the club intended to stick with its plan to use Musgrove as a starter, despite his shoulder injury and past struggles in the rotation.
Musgrove expressed confidence the injury is not a sign of a long-term issue. Instead, he said the setback was the result of him trying to return too quickly. Now, Ray Searage and Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' director of sports medicine, are monitoring the intensity of Musgrove's workouts. He is not allowed to elevate his velocity past 80 mph, but that will change as he continues his return-to-pitching program.
"It’s been a little bit challenging, but I've been feeling good," Musgrove said. "The hardest thing is to not push it a little bit, but that's what my problem has been in the past. I feel good and I want to increase, increase and increase instead of just building."