With an abundance of injuries to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff, top prospect Walker Buehler has received his first extended look as a starting pitcher at the Major League level sooner than anyone could have anticipated.
Nearly three years removed from Tommy John surgery, Buehler entered the 2018 season with an innings limit still in place. He initially expected to see the majority of his opportunities with the Dodgers in the second half to preserve his workload for the stretch run.
Instead, Buehler has already exceeded expectations while emerging as one of the club’s more productive starting pitchers. In five games, he has pitched to a 2.67 ERA, 2.21 FIP and 1.15 WHIP over 27 innings with 34 strikeouts to nine walks.
While the 23-year-old has impressed in the early going, one scout believes there is still plenty of room for growth, via Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
Walker Buehler has an “electric arm.” But one scout says he still sees him as “a thrower, not a pitcher,” and actually believes he needs more seasoning.
With Clayton Kershaw potentially nearing a return after throwing his first bullpen session while on the disabled list, it’s possible that Buehler finds himself optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City in the near future to limit his innings for later in the year.
With Buehler currently pitching every five days, the Dodgers have expressed caution with their prized right-hander. In five Major League starts thus far, he has yet to surpass the 97-pitch threshold in any of his outings.
Though, Buehler reached that mark in his most recent appearance against the Miami Marlins and has steadily been extended a longer leash with each game.
Moreover, Buehler hasn’t logged more than six innings pitched in any start. That’s evidently the target, as he was even pulled from a no-hitter in progress against the San Diego Padres in Mexico after tossing six hitless frames.
