San Diego Padres ace Joe Musgrove breaks toe in weight room accident

PEORIA, Ariz. — San Diego Padres veteran co-ace Joe Musgrove will miss the start of the season after fracturing his left big toe Monday in a weight-lifting accident.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said that Musgrove won’t begin throwing again for at least two weeks, but conceded that's an optimistic viewpoint – and it likely will be a longer absence.

“You don’t want to see [a picture of the fracture]," one Padres player told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. "It is bad. Really ugly.’’

It’s unknown when Musgrove can rejoin the rotation, but a lengthy absence would mean that Musgrove has to re-start his spring-training throwing program.

“I mean, it’s not starting over,’’ Melvin said, “but the longer you go, the more it gets closer and closer to starting over, but obviously he’s a guy who keeps himself in really good shape. …

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“It’s going to be more about how it heals and certainly a pain tolerance thing. We’ll have to evaluate how he’s doing and see where he goes.’’

Musgrove made the All-Star team for the first time last season, going 10-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 30 starts as the Padres reached the National League Championship Series.

Musgrove, a San Diego native, signed a five-year extension worth $100 million last year. He made three starts in the postseason, getting the victory with seven shutout innings in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the NL wild-card series against the New York Mets.

It’s unknown now who will be the opening-day starter with Yu Darvish and Nick Martinez each pitching in the World Baseball Classic. The Padres also have Blake Snell, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.

“We are up against it as far as scheduling goes,’’ Melvin said. “We’ll see how it goes.’’

It's the second consecutive year row the Padres lost a key player to an off-field injury, after star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. broke his wrist in the 2021-22 offseason. He ultimately missed the whole season after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs.