As the Los Angeles Dodgers were in the final stretch of their Cactus League games, Blake Treinen sustained an upper body injury that initially was considered relatively minor.
Treinen was struck in the chest by a line-drive comebacker but X-rays and a CT scan both came back negative. He was diagnosed with a bruised lung, yet still made the Dodgers’ travel roster for South Korea.
Treinen at that point was expected to be on the Opening Day roster but instead began the season on the 15-day injured list.
Although the right-hander has been on a throwing program, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Treinen is not necessarily on the verge of being activated, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Blake Treinen is still “weeks” away from returning. He has been throwing, but needs to build all the way back up after missing so much time now.
Treinen advanced to throwing a bullpen session before the Dodgers played the final game of their homestand. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was among those to watch Treinen’s work on the mound.
Blake Treinen is throwing a bullpen session. pic.twitter.com/5zjCpFZBoq
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 3, 2024
Although the veteran still needs time to build himself back up before joining the Dodgers bullpen, it’s an encouraging development that Treinen has not been transferred to the 60-day IL.
That hasn’t been the case for Brusdar Graterol and Emmet Sheehan, both of whom began the regular season on the IL as well and now can’t be reinstated until the middle of May.
Why is Blake Treinen delayed?
When recently discussing Treinen’s progress and status, Roberts explained there has not been a setback during the rehab but rather just slower-than-expected improvement.
“I think it was more residual,” Roberts said. “Because if we would’ve known this, he wouldn’t have made the trip to Korea. So once we got there, in catch play, it just never felt better.
“So I think at that point in time, the medical staff decided to slow play it and essentially start up again. … The imaging, what we saw, what we knew, we felt good about him traveling with us and assumed — or hoped — it would dissipate as the days went on. But that just wasn’t the case.”
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