The Los Angeles Dodgers saw a pair of key contributors from their starting rotation in Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill become free agents at the conclusion of the 2019 World Series.
On the heels of a career year in which he finished second in National League Cy Young voting, Ryu is expected to command a lucrative multi-year contract this winter. While his preference is reportedly returning to the Dodgers, he has garnered interest from other teams such as the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays.
Hill’s outlook is more uncertain considering he just underwent primary revision surgery to reattach the UCL in his left elbow. The initial prognosis called for the left-hander to be sidelined through at least June of the 2020 season.
Hill offered an update on his recovery, revealing that he is progressing well and expects to be able to return to a Major League mound by June 2020, via MLB Network Radio:
“The rehab’s going great. I’m six weeks into it right now and my elbow feels brand new. The one thing about the primary revision surgery is that the internal brace that goes in there as opposed to doing a full revision of the Tommy John surgery, is something that will expedite the months of getting back to the field. As opposed to a full revision of Tommy John, this will only take seven to eight months to get back onto the field. By June, I’m fully expecting to be out there pitching in Major League games.”
The Dodgers are believed to be one of 10 teams that have already reached out to Hill, as they are one of the few organizations equipped with enough starting pitching depth to get by the first two months of the regular season until he is ready to return.
Hill is coming off an injury-ridden 2019 campaign in which he compiled a 4-1 record with a 2.45 ERA, 4.10 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in 58.2 innings (13 starts).
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