Yoshinobu Yamamoto completed the targeted goal of two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, checking off another box as he works to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation in September.
Yamamoto allowed one hit, a solo home run in the first inning, and collected two strikeouts. He threw 31 pitches, including 23 for strike. Yamamoto’s fastball velocity in the outing sat at 94-95 mph against the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers affiliate).
“I think there were good things. I went through the two innings and overall I felt good,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “First inning, I wasn’t feeling that right. But the second inning, everything was much better. There are takeaways from today’s outing.”
Yamamoto also threw one inning’s worth of pitches in the bullpen after exiting the game.
The right-hander went into the outing days removed from throwing an encouraging bullpen session.
Yamamoto went on the 15-day injured list June 16 due to an official designation of right triceps tightness. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated the more specific nature of Yamamoto’s injury was a rotator cuff strain.
Yamamoto was shut down from throwing for nearly one month but has progressed through the recovery process without any setbacks since starting to play catch in the middle of July.
The Dodgers anticipated a lengthy road ahead and transferred Yamamoto to the 60-day injured list, which made Aug. 15 the earliest date he was eligible to be activated.
Yamamoto has gone 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 14 starts this season. He was in the midst of an impressive stretch before his injury, allowing only one run over his last 15 innings pitched.
Next step for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Dodgers’ plan for Yamamoto is to have him make a second rehab start with a Minor League affiliate and stretch out to three innings in that outing.
That could then be followed with a return to the Dodgers rotation, which may be likely given Tyler Glasnow’s slower-than-expected recovery from right elbow tendinitis.
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