Clayton Kershaw returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers for an 18th season but began the year on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from offseason surgeries on his left foot and knee.
Kershaw is not eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL until May 17 but nevertheless continues to make progress toward returning to the mound.
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The left-hander faced batters in a simulated game at Camelback Ranch last week and is expected to do the same on Thursday.
Kershaw said he is trying to stay on the same schedule until his toe heals, which will allow him to ramp up even more, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I’m kind of just going to keep on that schedule,” Kershaw said. “It’s kind of a weird needle to thread because physically my arm is ready to go. I’m ready. But my toe isn’t all the way there yet. Whenever my toe finally is strong enough to be out there, I want to be ready.
“It’s obviously a unique injury for pitching, unique injury for baseball. So there’s not a whole lot of precedent with it. We’re just kind of, whenever my toe is ready to go, I’ll be ready to go.”
Kershaw was limited to seven starts last year and finished 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in 30 innings pitched. It was the first time since his rookie season in 2008 that he posted an ERA above 4.00.
The 37-year-old has stated that his hope is to pitch for the Dodgers sometime in June. He put off retirement by re-signing with the team on a one-year, $7.5 million contract that includes incentives.
Clayton Kershaw gives speech at White House
Although he has been away from the Dodgers for most of his rehabilitation process, Kershaw accompanied the club to the White House on Monday.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner delivered a speech on behalf of the organization in place of Freddie Freeman, who missed the trip while recovering from a sprained right ankle.
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