Walker Buehler is unable to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers due to recovering from a right flexor tendon repair and second Tommy John surgery, but he has still kept busy of late by taking on new ventures.
Buehler threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium before Game 2 of National League Division Series, and on Friday he joined Fox Sports as a guest analyst in studio.
“Walker needs the center of attention at all cost, so he found it,” Clayton Kershaw joked earlier in the week. “I think he is doing the Fox broadcast too. He will be out there.
“No, Walker has obviously been a really huge part of this team and we’re going to miss him at this time. He has obviously pitched some huge games for us. Won a lot of huge postseason games for us, so we’re going to miss him. I think it’s great that we’re letting him be a part of it, and I hope he gets the standing ovation he deserves.”
LA @Dodgers pitcher @buehlersdayoff joins us in the pregame show and breaks down what makes his teammate, @goooose15, so dominant on the mound.
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— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 14, 2022
What made Nola so special tonight? @DTrainMLB and @buehlersdayoff break down his performance: pic.twitter.com/actCL34jg8
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 15, 2022
.@DTrainMLB: "So I have to ask you, if you're pitching to me, and I bat flip you like that and slam the bat down, are you cutting bacon off of me the next time out?"@buehlersdayoff: "We're going to come in close, I always say, 'Make'em smell one.'"
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— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 15, 2022
During his broadcasting debut, Buehler highlighted what helped Tony Gonsolin have an All-Star season in 2022 and Aaron Nola’s dominant start in the Philadelphia Phillies’ big win over the Atlanta Braves.
Then when asked by Dontrelle Willis how he would handle an opponent hitting a home run and doing a bat flip against him, Buehler said he likely would make sure to throw up and in during the next at-bat.
While Buehler looked plenty comfortable in joining NLDS coverage on FS1, the Dodgers suffered a loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 and now are on the brink of elimination after a historic 111-win season.
Walker Buehler recovery timeline
Given that Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery in late August, the general expectation is he will miss the entire 2023 season.
However, the 28-year-old recently said he didn’t want to rule out pitching next year, even if it were to be in a limited role.
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