As Walker Buehler progresses toward a return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation, he has been busy throwing and rehabbing his arm in the hopes of getting back to the team next month.
Buehler underwent a second Tommy John surgery last year, along with having his right flexor tendon repaired, which created an expectation he would miss the entire 2023 season. However, Buehler has progressed to the point where it’s almost likely that he will be back before the year’s end.
The right-hander continued his workout at Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) in Oceanside, Califorina, where Masters champion Jon Rahm was preparing for the FedEx Cup.
After Rahm noticed Buehler and the rest of the Dodgers’ staff that was with him, he decided he wanted the experience of stepping into the box against a Major League pitcher, via Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press:
“Half of the Dodgers training squad came in,” Rahm said. “I said, ‘I’ve got to see this one guy live throw a pitch.’ I couldn’t believe when I saw the actual plate how small it is. I was like, ‘There’s no way you hit this all the time on command.’ He threw two lasers at the same spot. He said it was 85 mph. It didn’t seem like he was trying very hard.”
As one of the best athletes in the world at his sport, Rahm still had worries being so close to a fastball, but became more comfortable once he saw Buehler’s abilities:
“The first time I was about 6 feet from the plate because I was freaked out,” Rahm said Tuesday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. “Then I got as close as you can get. It seemed like the confidence I would have for making a 2-foot putt, he had for making sure he hit his spots.”
Buehler has since advanced to facing hitters, which he did last week at Chase Field for the first time since his surgery and again on Monday. His second simulated game was not as sharp, but it was still encouraging to see him get through another session healthy.
Buehler is due to pitch against batters again on Saturday and may begin a Minor League rehab assignment soon as long as he keeps progressing.
Dave Roberts betting on Walker Buehler
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed by Buehler and is now fully convinced a return this season will come to fruition.
“I’m shocked. But in that same breath, guys like Walker are just different,” Roberts said. “They’re wired and mentally different, physically they’re just freaks of nature. So you can’t discount that.
“I was surprised that he put it in the universe he was going to be back (in 2023), but I’m going to bet on him.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
