The Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to welcome back Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw this week, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains among a long list of pitchers still on their injured list.
Yamamoto was put on the 15-day IL June 16 because of a right rotator cuff strain. That came one day after Yamamoto was removed from a start due to triceps tightness that initially surfaced after an outing against the New York Yankees.
The 25-year-old faced a lengthy recovery but has made recent strides in that process.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Yamamoto said he does not have pain in his right shoulder and remains hopeful of returning at some point during the 2024 season:
“That’s my goal, to try to come back this season,” Yamamoto said Sunday through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I just keep working with trainers and do my preparation based on what they say. … It’s no pain or discomfort. Everything is as planned.”
Yamamoto was shut down for nearly one month before starting a throwing program last month. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’s stretched out to around 200 feet while playing catch, but is yet to get any work off a mound.
“Until he gets off a mound, we really don’t know a whole lot,” Roberts added.
Yamamoto went 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 14 starts before going on the injured list. The Dodgers then transferred Yamamoto to the 60-day IL, which made Aug. 15 the earliest he can be activated.
The paper move didn’t have much bearing on his trajectory, however, as Yamamoto returning in the middle of August is not feasible given the amount of time he’s already missed and needed steps before joining the Dodgers rotation.
How injury impacts Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Dodgers contract
Details of the record-setting 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers included a clause that if Yamamoto has Tommy John surgery or spends more than 134 days consecutive service days on the injured list from 2024 through 2029, his opt-outs don’t come until 2031 and 2023.
If Tommy John surgery or that prolonged stint on the injured list are avoided, Yamamoto can opt out of his Dodgers contract in 2029 and 2031.
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