The Los Angeles Dodgers used High-A Rancho Cucamonga as a recovery hub of sorts this week, sending Logan Forsythe, Rich Hill and Joc Pederson on rehab assignments. Forsythe’s hit a snag due to hamstring tightness, but Hill and Pederson remained on track.
Pederson returned Friday night and started for the Dodgers in the series opener against the San Diego Padres. Although Hill managed to get through his rehab start on Thursday without his blister trouble cropping up, the outing was cut extremely short.
The southpaw only tossed two-thirds of an inning and was removed at 29 pitches. That fell well short of the targeted four innings and 60 pitches. Hill finished throwing in the bullpen.
He’s scheduled for another rehab start with the Quakes on Tuesday, and at that point could then return with the Dodgers, per David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio:
Rich Hill will pitch another rehab game on Tuesday. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 6, 2017
Plan is 5 IP/75 pitches for Hill and if all goes well he will return to #Dodgers rotation.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 6, 2017
While there was some consideration given to shutting Hill down for various lengths of time, he continued throwing in the wake of landing on the disabled list a second time this season. Coupled with a myriad treatments, that’s seemingly played a factor in Hill’s blister beginning to callus.
He’s thrown eight innings over two starts this season, pitching to a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Hill’s forthcoming return will lend to the Dodgers at last needing to make a decision with their surplus of starting pitchers.
