The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Andrew Heaney on the 15-day injured list on June 24 due to inflammation in his left shoulder, which came after he made just one start upon returning from the same injury.
The Dodgers had high hopes for Heaney, who showed incredible upside through two starts to begin the season. He tossed a combined 10.1 shutout innings, which included an 11-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds on April 17.
Heaney’s June 19 outing versus the Cleveland Guardians appeared to go well. After allowing just one earned run over five innings, he said all was well physically in a return to the Dodgers rotation. But Heaney dealt with pain in the following days and further examination revealed another shoulder strain.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his frustration given Heaney’s hard work in previously making his way back from this same injury, via SportsNet LA:
“It’s a little worrisome, a little frustrating more for Andrew. He did a lot to get back to that point, but it’s where we’re at. So our job now and his job is to do whatever we can to get him back on the mound as soon as we can.”
On the season, Heaney has posted a 0.59 ERA with a FIP of 2.16 in 15.1 innings pitched. His short stint of success is almost justifying given how bad his 2021 season was and lends validation as to why the Dodgers gave him a one-year, $8.5 million contract.
Roberts has needed to manage a rotation void of Heaney and Walker Buehler, while maintaining a close eye on keeping Clayton Kershaw healthy, and avoiding placing too much of a burden on Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin.
Heaney close to rehab assignment
Fortunately for Heaney and the Dodgers, his recovery from a second left shoulder strain has progressed faster than earlier this season. He’s due to travel with the team and throw a simulated game at Busch Stadium, which would then be followed by the start of a rehab assignment.
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