The Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster has continued to be impacted by injury as of late, but there is a group of injured players who are making good progress at various stages of their rehab process.
The bullpen has been the most affected group, with seven relievers spending time on the injured list.
The starting rotation is not that far behind with holdover injuries from 2023 and new ones in 2024 that turned a deep group into one that could barely scrape together a starting five. However, it has been alleviated somewhat with the recent return of Walker Buehler.
Clayton Kershaw will not be returning to a Major League mound anytime soon, but hie rehabilitation from offseason left shoulder surgery has continued to steadily yield positive progress.
After completing a 20-pitch bullpen session Kershaw said that his shoulder continued to feel good, according to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Clayton Kershaw threw his second bullpen session today
Dave Roberts said it was 20 pitches, all FB/2-seam, and that Kershaw’s shoulder continues to feel good. Next steps are ramping up in ‘pens & mixing in breaking stuff
Roberts said it’s all been “really encouraging” so far
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) May 8, 2024
It was Kershaw’s second bullpen session of his rehab and this one seems to have gone just as well as the last. Kershaw is more than six months removed from his surgery so now the focus will be on building up strength in his arm and shoulder.
Emmet Sheehan is in the same boat as Kershaw in terms of a longer timeline for his return to the Dodgers, but like Kershaw, he is also progressing well and has avoided any potential setbacks.
Sheehan has been out since the early stages of Spring Training and is currently on the 60-day injured list with right forearm inflammation. He was projected to be a high ceiling back of the rotation option this season before the injury.
Jason Heyward and Bobby Miller seem to be on track for much shorter timelines out of this group of four. Both Heyward and Miller were injured pretty early on into the 2024 season, especially Heyward who only appeared in four games before he was placed on the IL with lower back tightness.
Both are approaching a rehab assignment before re-joining the team:
Other Dodgers updates:
–– Jason Heyward did more hitting/baserunning today, and will take live BPs in San Diego this weekend. He’s getting closer to a rehab assignment (which could last between 2-5 games, per Roberts)
–– Bobby Miller is also getting closer to a rehab stint.…
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) May 8, 2024
Heyward’s body seems to now be positively responding after he suffered multiple setbacks in a rehab process that was not expected to last as long as it has.
Bobby Miller made three starts for the Dodgers before going on the IL, and could further reinforce a Dodgers rotation that has been performing very well lately. He has a 5.40 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings this season.
Dodgers hope Joe Kelly and Evan Phillips return soon
Evan Phillips, the Dodgers closer and best bullpen option, recently was placed on the IL for the first time since 2021 with a right hamstring strain. However, the good news is that the Dodgers expect him to be back with the team as soon as he is eligible to return.
There was also some positive news for Kelly as the team doesn’t believe the injury is anything serious.
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