In the same week that saw Shohei Ohtani make his 2025 pitching debut, Emmet Sheehan is now set to do the same when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their series with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
The right-hander’s start is going to be on five days of rest after his most recent appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City to finish a rehab assignment.
Sheehan pitched to a combined 3.97 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in four rehab outings between the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and Comets. He had allowed one run or fewer in each rehab start before giving up four last week to the Albuquerque Isotopes in a notoriously hitter-friendly environment.
Sheehan rejoined the team over the weekend and threw a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as his final hurdle before returning to a Major League mound.
“I think coming off Tommy John, you just really don’t know what to expect,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Sheehan. “We saw a little bit of it in Spring Training and all the reports from that point to now, it’s just been really positive every time out.
“He’s been holding his stuff, the physicality, he’ll be a nice infusion if it works out.”
Sheehan made his MLB debut in 2023 and wound up earning a spot on the Dodgers’ postseason roster for the National League Division Series that year. However, all of that momentum was lost when Sheehan underwent a Tommy John hybrid procedure that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season.
“He’s much more physical than he was,” Roberts said of Sheehan returning. “I think it’s part of the rehab process. It’s been over a year, and you start to kind of put mass on. He’s very physical right now.”
Sheehan is set to re-enter a Dodgers rotation that currently includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Ben Casparius, along with Ohtani, who will initially serve as an opener while he continues to build up through a pseudo rehab assignment.
What to expect from Emmet Sheehan in 2025 debut
Given the relatively brief rehab assignment, the Dodgers don’t anticipate Sheehan to go deep into his start against the Padres on Wednesday.
“I think the next one would be four (innings) and 60, 65 (pitches). Something like that is fair,” Roberts said.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
