Not long after the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Walker Buehler 24th overall in the 2015 Draft, the right-hander was forced to undergo Tommy John. Buehler subsequently had his professional debut delayed.
That finally came last July, with Buehler tossing two scoreless innings for Low-A Great Lakes. He threw two innings one month later for the Arizona League Dodgers, and rejoined the Quakes in late August.
In total, Buehler threw five innings during the regular season, and five more scoreless frames over two postseason starts for the Loons. He began this season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, the 22-year-old is now joining Double-A Tulsa:
The Dodgers have promoted right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, their 2015 first-round draft pick, to Double-A Tulsa, according to multiple sources.
Buehler made five starts for the Quakes, allowing just three runs (two earned) on eight hits over 16.1 innings (1.10 ERA). He held opponents to a .143/.226/.232 batting line, and struck out 27 to just five walks.
With this being his first full season since the Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers have carefully managed Buehler. He went three innings in each of his first three starts, and was removed after the fourth inning in his past two outings.
While the Dodgers reportedly were shopping Jose De Leon in trade talks during the offseason, they were said to have refused entertaining potential deals involving Yadier Alvarez or Buehler.
