Emmet Sheehan worked his way back from Tommy John surgery and impressed in his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 18 against the San Diego Padres.
Sheehan threw four innings with just one run on three hits allowed while striking out six and walking one. Despite the positive outing, the right-hander was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City the following day.
In his first start back with the OKC Comets, Sheehan tossed six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts.
While the 25-year-old appears ready to become a full-time member of the Dodgers’ rotation, manager Dave Roberts said he’s making at least one more start for the Comets, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Emmet Sheehan’s next start will come in triple-A, Roberts said, even after the right-hander pitched six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts earlier this week.
When the Dodgers first sent Sheehan to Triple-A on June 19, it was to add a fresh arm to their bullpen. Roberts also said the Dodgers wanted him to stretch out more after a shortened rehab assignment.
However, after Sheehan was optioned, that limited the Dodgers’ ability to call him back up. Sheehan is not able to return to the team until Saturday, July 4, unless he’s replacing an injured pitcher.
It seems likely he will be back with the Dodgers after that point, given their need for quality pitching with all their injuries.
They are currently relying on a rotation consisting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Shohei Ohtani followed by Ben Casparius, and a bullpen game with Justin Wrobleski taking on bulk innings.
That gives the Dodgers a clear path to add Sheehan back into their rotation, and they could easily designate Luis García or Lou Trivino to make room on their roster.
That would also allow one of Casparius or Wrobleski to work in more of a relief role, providing the Dodgers with even more versatility in their bullpen.
When will Emmet Sheehan return to the Dodgers?
The Dodgers play nine consecutive games without an off day to begin July, so Sheehan will likely get recalled between July 4-9.
He last pitched for the Comets on June 25, which was a week after his outing for the Dodgers. If kept him on that same schedule, it would line Sheehan up to pitch for OKC on July 2 and the Dodgers on July 9.
However, they could cut a day of rest for him each time if they wish to mix him back in sooner, and instead have Sheehan make respective starts on July 1 and 8.
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