The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled their top pitching prospect, Walker Buehler, from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Monday night’s series opener against the Miami Marlins.
Buehler’s first career Major League start was a good one, as he tossed five shutout innings while allowing just four hits, all singles, and striking out five against three walks.
The Dodgers have been cautious with Buehler since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015, limiting both his innings and pitches per outing. He threw 89 pitches in the Dodgers 2-1 victory, which he was pleased that the front office and coaching staff allowed him to do.
“I don’t think I’ve thrown 89 pitches since the College World Series, so it was kind of a wake-up for me too,” Buehler said. “I’ve felt for a while I can throw more but as I’ve said, I understand it. We’ll move forward that way.”
Buehler spent a short time with the big league club last September as a reliever, which he believes helped him this time around. “It for sure helps. I don’t think it can hurt you, to be honest,” Buehler saind.
“When you make that flight here a second time, it’s not calling everyone I’ve ever known and tell them I’m coming here. You feel, ‘Oh, I’m heading back. I’ve been there before.’ I don’t know if it’s so much the baseball that you’re comfortable with. It’s the flight, pack your bags, head to L.A., get in the hotel and that type of stuff.”
The Dodgers have not revealed exactly how they plan to limit Buehler’s innings this season, but he is prepared for whatever they throw at him. “I did it last year, not so much the up and down, but I pitched in a lot of different places last year,” he said.
“It was five starts on, one start off, through the whole summer, so I’m ready for everything.”
With a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants coming up on Saturday, it is possible that Buehler is optioned back to Oklahoma City but then recalled as the 26th man to start one of the games of that doubleheader, although that has not yet been confirmed by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
