Emmet Sheehan missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing a hybrid Tommy John surgery and now is among multiple Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers working their way back toward a return this year.
Sheehan faced hitters at Dodger Stadium earlier this month and reportedly sat in the 95-97 mph range with his fastball.
The 25-year-old has since begun a rehab assignment and struck out five of the six batters he faced while pitching for the Dodgers’ Rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate on Memorial Day. He is now scheduled to continue his rehab with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered a glowing report of Sheehan’s first rehab start and said it’s an extension of encouraging updates about the right-hander, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
His stuff has looked “fantastic,” Roberts said.
“It was pretty impressive, really impressive,” said Roberts, who also saw Sheehan throw to Dodgers hitters Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman when they were returning from the injured list earlier this month.
“It’s a really explosive life-y fastball that’s commanded. The breaking ball, the changeup have all been really good.”
Sheehan was a fast-rising Dodgers prospect and made his MLB debut in 2023. He wound up earning a spot on the team’s postseason roster for the National League Division Series.
Sheehan will likely make around a handful of more appearances with the Comets or other Dodgers’ Minor League affiliates over the next month or so. As long as there are no setbacks, Sheehan could potentially be back on a Major League mound by the end of June.
Emmet Sheehan will be ‘very helpful’ for Dodgers
Given the state of the Dodgers rotation, Roberts believes Sheehan can make a big impact later this summer.
“Emmett is tracking, and he’s coming quick, so I know he threw to some hitters and everything I’ve heard, the delivery, the health has been fantastic,” Roberts said after Sheehan faced Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández.
“He’s going to be a little sneaky pick to click sometime later this summer. I don’t have the timeline, but this guy’s put in a lot of work and to have that type of velocity and command, and is going to be very helpful at some point.”
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