Walker Buehler attempted to make a come back for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2023 season following a right flexor tendon repair and second Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2022, but ultimately did not get past a brief rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Buehler made one start with OKC in early September as part of a rehab assignment before announcing his focus had shifted to getting healthy for 2024.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said Buehler will be ready to go in Spring Training, but that his regular-season debut could potentially be delayed as a way to manage his innings.
During an appearance on the “Roggin And Rodney” show, Buehler said he is feeling healthy but doesn’t know what the team may have planned for him:
“I feel good. I’ve been in the gym for a little bit over a month now, so we’re kind of getting back into it. Start playing catch here soon, build up and try to get ready as soon as I can. I don’t know in terms of innings limits and stuff like that, coming off surgery, what we’re going to do, but as of right now I feel great and hopefully I’ll be ready to roll.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said Buehler will be ready to go in Spring Training, but that his regular-season debut could potentially be delayed as a way to manage his innings. The team could also give him a break at some point during the year and shorten his starts.
“It’s a combo,” Roberts answered when asked how the Dodgers will manage Buehler. “It’s what’s best to have him being able to finish the season with bullets left. So, you could argue start and have a stop or an abbreviation throughout the season, or you could argue just start a little bit later so there’s no pause.
“So, there’s no right answer, obviously Walker’s going to be a big part of the conversation and then we’ll be all in on that.”
Buehler last pitched in a Major League game on June 10, 2022, against the San Francisco Giants. He is entering his final year of salary arbitration before potentially becoming a free agent after the 2024 season.
Walker Buehler encouraged by Nathan Eovaldi
Buehler is looking to join a select group of pitchers who have made it back to the Majors after undergoing two Tommy John operations. Among them is Nathan Eovaldi, who just won his second World Series championship with the Texas Rangers.
Buehler said he is encouraged by Eovaldi’s success since undergoing the two operations and hopes to have similar results.
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