Tyler Glasnow is one of the biggest starters currently on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ injured list, and he’s among them who have been out for an extended period.
Glasnow last pitched in a game on April 27, when he left in the second inning. He was placed on the 15-day injured list the following day due to right shoulder inflammation.
It has been a lengthy and complicated rehab process for Glasnow. One filled with confusion over what’s causing him trouble and an apparent setback.
Glasnow threw his first bullpen session on May 23, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said did not go particularly well and resulted in a temporary stoppage of his progression due to general body discomfort. That immediately raised the level of concern and it prompted Glasnow to offer some clarity that it was minor back trouble.
“My shoulder is totally fine. That issue I haven’t felt since I’ve been throwing. Literally just a precaution, that’s all,” he said. “Totally fine, I’m good to go. So, yeah, it was last week, but I’ve been feeling good. I’m throwing and pitched a bullpen, and really good.”
Glasnow experienced some back discomfort last season as well, but this most recent case was mild in comparison. It was more of a refection of the precautions the Dodgers are taking with his rehab more than anything. He simply took a couple of days off before getting back to work.
Glasnow still has a ways to go in his recovery process and he isn’t eligible to be activated until June 27 because of being transferred to the 60-day IL. Glasnow doesn’t have an exact idea of how long it will take him to build up, but he is hopeful it won’t be nearly as long as the buildup from Spring Training to the regular season.
“I hope not. I don’t know. I really don’t know,” he said of his timeframe. “But the velo is good, and recovery has been really good. I’ve been on the mound, I’m going on the mound this week, so I’m just taking it bullpen by bullpen and just see what it is.
“Hopefully, I can face hitters soon. I’m trying to get out there soon, but I mean, I have to be healthy. I want to be here for playoffs. So it’s like listening to them and just trying to figure it all out. But just coming back as soon as I can in a healthy way to help the team in the playoffs is my goal.”
Glasnow expects to throw another bullpen session sometime this weekend but there isn’t a target date for his return.
“Right now, it’s just bullpen and then lives. I think it’s just step by step,” he said.
Tyler Glasnow confiden there is time to prepare
While Glasnow has his own opinion of how fast he should be progressing, he understands why the Dodgers are handling him with such care. The approach could leave Glasnow with less time to reacquaint himself against Major League pitching than he otherwise would have, but he is confident there will be enough of a window to adequately prepare.
“I’ll have time. I’m not going to come back late, late. I’m trying to get back as soon as I can and they’re trying to get me back as soon as I can, too, but in like a healthy way,” he said.
“I think I default to like, ‘Let’s go. I want to push now.’ But at this point, I just have to trust the professionals on how I’m doing and how I’m recovering all that. But we’re both on the same wavelength of let’s get you back out as healthy as possible, as soon as possible, in a healthy way.”
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