In his second season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, pitcher Walker Buehler gained experience in three different levels of the Minor Leagues before making his Major League debut on Sept. 7.
After a vigorous rehab process following Tommy John Surgery, the Dodgers medical staff and front office were optimistic he’d make a full recovery and be able to progress towards the pitcher they had envisioned. He made his first appearance in the Minor Leagues in mid-June, beginning as a starting pitcher.
However, the Dodgers decided to shift his role towards relief, to gauge if he would be able to help out the Major League team. He would then go on to put together multiple scoreless outings from the bullpen, catching the eyes of the coaching staff. He would go on to make 12 total appearances (three starts) for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, posting a 4.63 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 3.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio, including an average of 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Scouts praised the 23-year-old as a pitcher with four above-average pitchers, capable of making an immediate impact on the Dodgers. He then received his opportunity in lieu of the September call-ups and the 40-man roster expansion, earning the opportunity to pitch at Dodger Stadium.
Although Buehler’s statistics following his eight appearances won’t necessarily scream success, taking a deeper dive into his outings shows consistency with a few blips on the radar. Those shortcomings came against the Rockies, where he allowed six earned runs on four hits and four walks in just 2.1 innings pitched.
Aside from those two outings, he allowed just two runs on seven hits and four walks in seven innings pitched out of the bullpen. Buehler wasn’t able to grab a spot on the postseason roster but did make a lasting impression that will surely pay dividends towards Spring Training.
2017 Highlight:
Buehler’s Major League debut on Sept. 7 was a dandy, as he was able to shine at Dodger Stadium facing off against some of the elite hitters in the National League West. After surrendering an opening ground-ball, he got Jonathan Lucroy to ground into a double-play for the first two outs of the eighth inning.
He then stepped to the mound in the ninth, striking out eventual NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon and Alexi Amarista looking. The crowd was in amazement, while announcer Joe Davis praised the rookie for those watching from home.
2018 Outlook:
Whether as a relief pitcher or starting pitcher remains to be seen, but Buehler will have an opportunity to make a bid for an opening day roster spot out of Spring Training. Even if he doesn’t break camp with the big league club, he will surely be up at some point in 2018 and figures to be the ace of the Dodgers staff in the future.
