Emmet Sheehan was one of the many surprise call-ups from a starter-heavy prospect class in 2023, and was a quick riser for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sheehan was 23 when he made his Major League debut and memorably tossed six no-hit innings in that debut performance. He had some ups and downs throughout 2023, most notably giving up three runs in 3.2 innings in a postseason appearance, but had plenty of reason for optimism.
He was considered the favorite to be the No. 5 starter at the top of the 2024 season when Spring Training came around, but was shut down by team doctors due to what was first considered general soreness, and later to elbow soreness.
Shehan had begun building up his arm and was playing long toss at Dodger Stadium, and it seemed things were going well. Then, on Thursday, it was announced that Sheehan underwent season-ending surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
The Dodgers’ original announcement did not specify whether or not that meant Tommy John surgery or a different elbow procedure, but according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Sheehan underwent a fully Tommy John procedure:
Sheehan underwent Tommy John surgery, a league source specified.
It’s certainly a hard pill to swallow for a 24-year-old pitcher who was about to be entering a massive second campaign that could have allowed him to jockey for long-term positioning in a crowded Dodgers’ starting rotation. Now, Sheehan is expected to miss the entire 2024 season and potentially more.
Walker Buehler, for example, missed 23 months, although it was his second Tommy John surgery. But a procedure of this nature comes with at least a 9-12-month recovery window.
The surgery was performed Wednesday, May 15, in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. In order for Sheehan to return for the start of 2025, it would need to be a historically fast recovery.
Dodgers’ next steps for Bobby Miller still undecided
Sheehan is one of many Dodgers’ starting pitchers facing the injury bug in some fashion. One of the others, Bobby Miller, appears to be making progress.
Miller landed on the 15-day injured list April 13 due to right shoulder inflammation. His stint was backdated to April 10, and both Miller and the Dodgers anticipated his absence being on the short end due to an MRI of the troublesome shoulder not revealing any structural damage.
Wednesday’s throwing session at the Dodgers’ Spring Training facility was Miller’s first time facing batters since he was placed on the injured list.
The Dodgers have handled the 25-year-old with caution, an approach aided by the starting rotation recently finding its collective strive.
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