The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without Andrew Heaney for most of the season as he twice has dealt with a left shoulder strain. With the most recent injury, Heaney has been on the 15-day injured list since June 24.
The southpaw was projected to miss around three to five starts and he has now made two rehab appearances. Heaney now is poised to be activated Wednesday for a start against the Washington Nationals in the series finale at Dodger Stadium.
Although Heaney has been deemed healthy to return, the Dodgers intend to keep him on a pitch count for the remainder of the season.
“I think with Andrew, just to continue to keep him strong and built up, any number I could throw out is kind of arbitrary,” Roberts said. “It’s just kind of watching him, having conversations and talking to Mark Prior to figure out what is best. To see us extending him in any way, I don’t see that happening.”
Roberts previously suggested Heaney would be on a limit of roughly 75 pitches per outing.
On the season, Heaney has posted a 0.59 ERA and 2.16 FIP in 15.1 innings pitched. The short stint of success is almost justifying given how bad his 2021 season was and lends validation as to why the Dodgers gave him a one-year, $8.5 million contract.
Roberts previously expressed he was frustrated and disappointment for Heaney due to his injuries after the hard work the veteran starting pitcher has put in already.
Heaney rebounded in second rehab start
Heaney started for the ACL team last Thursday in what marked his second outing of a rehab assignment. The 32-year-old struggled with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, throwing 48 pitches and allowing four runs on six hits, including two homers, prior to being removed after just 2.2 innings.
Heaney bounced back in Arizona, collecting eight strikeouts over five innings. He did allow two more home runs along with three singles in the outing.
“It was good,” Heaney said. “First couple of innings were kind of feeling it a little bit, like feeling for it a little bit, and last three were good.”
Although Heaney was originally scheduled to throw four innings, he ended up going five, which he attributed to just how the game was going.
“I mean I still didn’t really hit like my pitch limit but I got five ups,” Heaney said. “So I think that’s kind of, you’re always kind of balancing the two.”
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!
