The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation welcomed back Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday, Clayton Kershaw made his 2024 debut Thursday, and Walker Buehler may not be far behind.
Buehler was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 because of right hip inflammation that he and the Dodgers believe may have been at least partly to blame for his struggles. The right-hander took some time away to work with other personnel but rejoined the team this week.
“He looks good. The however long he was away, I think it was beneficial. I think his hip is cleaned up, cleared up. He’s healthy, he’s strong,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Watched him throw a little on flat ground, looked good. He’s in a good spot physically, emotionally and mentally.”
Buehler built on playing catch from flat ground to throw a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.
“Walker looked really good. What stood out for me was the fastball, the life to the fastball. The delivery to most people’s eyes doesn’t look different, but I think the delivery was cleaned up,” Roberts said. “More efficient, consistent. Command was good with the fastball. The secondary was fine.
“It was a good ‘pen, so we’ll kind of circle up and figure out what’s next for Walker. It was an aggressive ‘pen.”
Making his 2024 debut on May 6, Buehler had not found much success this season after returning from a second career Tommy John surgery. He had a 5.84 ERA, 6.05 FIP, and allowed 46 hits in just 37 innings before going back on the IL.
Next step for Walker Buehler
The Dodgers went on to decide that Buehler would begin a rehab assignment Friday with a start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Roberts anticipates Buehler needing to make two starts before returning to the Dodgers rotation in much better health.
“He’s as hard-nose and as tough as I’ve seen, but when you’re operating at 80% capacity as far as the health part of it, and when you’re talking about the hip or lower half, that potentially could affect the arm,” Roberts said.
“Certainly, it affected his performance. So now that we’ve kind of got that back as a reset to get him back to health, I feel it was good for him. Being hurt, rehab, then you get hurt and you’re still trying to compete and help the team out, it certainly wasn’t going well.
“So getting a little break mentally, I think, was good too. And that’s completely understandable.”
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