Among the 10 players who began the 2016 season on the disabled list, the Los Angeles Dodgers were counting on Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu to eventually reinforce the starting rotation.
McCarthy was the first to return, doing so in early July. He was followed by Ryu and eventually, Anderson. However, all three starters have since been put back on the disabled list. In Ryu’s case, he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 1 with tendinitis in his left elbow.
Less than one week ago Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the southpaw had yet to resume throwing and wasn’t expected to return this season. However, Roberts walked back his previous comments on Wednesday.
“He’s about ready to pick up a baseball. Obviously, we don’t know how much we can build him up,” Roberts said.
“But it’s encouraging Ryu wants to get back in any capacity that he can. As you look at the calendar and in talking to Hyun-Jin, he wants to give it a go, see where he’s at, and see where it falls.”
At this juncture in the season, the Dodgers are largely leaning on the expected returns next month of Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood. Though in Wood’s case, he’ll shift to a role out of the bullpen.
Ryu is scheduled to begin a throwing program within the next couple of days. While he’s attempting a comeback, the club understands the uphill battle Ryu faces.
“It’s encouraging in the sense that he doesn’t want to write the season off,” Roberts said. “He wants to continue to rehab, get healthy, and see where it takes him. For us, we’re really not putting any expectations on it.”
Ryu allowed six runs on eight hits over just 4.2 innings pitched in his lone start this season. The earliest he can be activated from the DL is Sept. 6.
