The Los Angeles Dodgers project to have one of the most talented bullpens in baseball, and it may get stronger as the season goes on with multiple players beginning the year on the injured list.
Options who should return in the near future are Daniel Hudson and Jimmy Nelson, and down the line the Dodgers hope to get Blake Treinen, Alex Reyes and J.P. Feyereisen back in the mix. Among those relievers, Treinen has arguably the highest upside to make an impact, but his recovery has been bumpier than the team first hoped.
Treinen struggled to stay healthy last season and ultimately underwent right shoulder surgery to repair his labrum and rotator cuff this past November.
He recently felt ahead of schedule with the rehab process and has now been cleared to begin a throwing program, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Right-hander Blake Treinen said he has been cleared to start a throwing program and will play catch Monday. Treinen will stay in Arizona to continue his recovery from November surgery to repair the labrum and rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder.
The timetable for Treinen is still to be determined, and he was already placed on the 60-day IL, but it is an encouraging step for the 34-year-old. Treinen remains confident he will pitch again this season, but it’s not a guarantee.
Since signing with the Dodgers as a free agent in the winter of 2019, Treinen has pitched to a 2.45 ERA in 104 games.
He displayed arguably the best season of his eight-year Major League career in 2021, posting a 1.99 ERA in 72.1 innings of work. During the 2022 season, Treinen pitched to a 1.80 ERA, but it came in just five innings of work due to his injury issues.
Dodgers bullpen without Blake Treinen
Without Treinen, the Dodgers bullpen for Opening Day projects to feature Yency Almonte, Phil Bickford, Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Andre Jackson, Shelby Miller, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
Jackson earned the final spot as a long reliever, and the Dodgers are beginning the season without a dedicated closer.
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