The Los Angeles Dodgers simultaneously suffered a significant loss but also avoided a catastrophic scenario when Rich Hill was removed after just one inning in his June 19 start against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers announced that evening it was due to forearm discomfort. That set off some alarms, considering a forearm issue of that nature can tend to be a precursor to Tommy John surgery. Though, Hill said in his postgame interview that initial evaluations suggested his UCL was in good health.
An MRI the following morning supported that, as it revealed Hill suffered a strained flexor tendon but his UCL indeed did not show any signs of distress. The veteran left-hander nonetheless was expected to refrain from throwing for at least three or four weeks.
Now in the middle of the projected timeline, Hill underwent another ultrasound and is on track to potentially begin throwing during his fourth week removed from the diagnosis, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Hill said the test showed things are progressing well. He could start a throwing program during next week’s road trip to Boston and Philadelphia but is not expected back in the rotation until September.
At the time of the injury, it was presumed Hill would not return until at least some point in August. That was all but confirmed when the club transferred him to the 60-day injured list as a corresponding move to adding Casey Sadler to their 40-man roster after he was was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The paper move meant Hill is not eligible to be activated until Aug. 19. Though, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said he did not envision the 39-year-old returning before September.
Hill went 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA, 4.15 FIP and 1.11 WHIP in 10 starts before landing on the IL. The flexor tendon issue is the second injury he’s dealt with this year; Hill began the season on the 10-day injured list because of an MCL strain in his left knee.
“Marking off everything I haven’t had this year,” Hill joked about his injuries.
He is in the final year of a three-year, $48 million contract signed with the Dodgers in December 2016.
