The Los Angeles Dodgers have greatly missed Yoshinobu Yamamoto in their rotation ever since he landed on the injured list with a strained right rotator cuff.
Yamamoto’s absence was one of many factors that led the Dodgers to acquiring Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline in effort to fortify their group of starting pitchers. Progress in Yamamoto’s rehab has been slow and methodical as the team exercised caution to not rush him back.
Things continued heading in the right direction on Sunday as he completed a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium. It was his first bullpen session since going on the IL, and Yamamoto followed it with another on Tuesday.
“I am comfortable. I guess I’m hopeful that he’ll be back,” answered Dodgers manager Dave Roberts when asked if he believed Yamamoto would return this season.
“He’s going to travel with us on the road to Milwaukee. He threw a ‘pen today, he’ll throw another ‘pen, and then he’ll throw a live session in Milwaukee at some point. So that’ll be a big step when he’s facing some hitters. And then hopefully if that goes well, you just keep building up from there.”
Results, health-wise, from pitching to batters during the Dodgers’ road trip are likely going to be a strong indicator of how realistic Yamamoto’s return in 2024 is.
Whether he would pitch in another simulated game or require a rehab assignment has not yet been decided.
“That’s a good question. I don’t know. I think for me, it’s open-ended right now. I think for me, it’s just getting the live on the calendar is something that I’m personally excited about,” Roberts said.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s rookie season
Before his injury, Yamamoto was off to a strong start in June after solid performances in May. He delivered six strong innings against the Colorado Rockies on June 1 and followed it up with an impressive seven scoreless innings on the road against the New York Yankees on June 7.
The rookie owns a 2.92 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 84 strikeouts and 1.07 WHIP in 74 innings pitched this season.
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