Buehler (elbow) will not pitch for the Dodgers in 2023.
Buehler has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He threw two scoreless innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. However, with the Dodgers shifting their focus to getting Buehler ready for the start of 2024, it's unclear whether the 29-year-old righty will continue making rehab appearances in the minors.
Buehler (elbow) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Buehler looked sharp in his rehab debut Sunday with OKC, tallying two strikeouts over two perfect innings in what was a 24-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. He's expected to make at least two more starts on the farm -- including Friday -- before possibly stepping in as a rotation replacement for Julio Urias following his weekend arrest on a felony domestic violence charge. Buehler is a little over 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Excels in first rehab start
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Buehler tossed 24 pitches (15 strikes) en route to retiring the side in the first and second innings. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Buehler's fastball sat between 93 and 96 miles per hour in the first inning, and he was able to mix in a cutter, slider, sinker and curveball to complement the heater. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Buehler will likely need at least two more rehab starts prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, making mid-to-late September the target for his 2023 debut with the Dodgers.
Buehler (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Buehler has been throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex since early August, though he'll make a long-awaited step forward to rehab games. He's expected to throw one or two innings in his first appearance and will need to make at least three starts before being activated. That could line Buehler up for a return in mid-to-late September, barring setbacks.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Still throwing in Arizona
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) will continue throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex in Arizona, as he has yet to toss more than one inning, per MLB.com.
Buehler began throwing to live hitters Aug. 9 and has continued to take part in one-inning simulated games. He appears to have avoided any setbacks, but the fact that he hasn't yet gone more than one frame suggests that he's still several weeks away from a return. Buehler will eventually need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut with the big-league club.
Buehler (elbow) will return as a traditional starting pitcher if he is able to make it back this season, manager Dave Roberts said Friday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
The right-hander would be able to rejoin the Dodgers' staff more quickly if the goal was to use him initially in shorter stints, either as an opener or reliever, but Roberts said in this interview that the plan will be to build him up to four innings and/or 60 pitches. In his first time facing live hitters Wednesday since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler touched 93 mph with his fastball during a one-inning sim game. He won't be ready at the beginning of September, but Roberts said a return sometime that month is still a viable option.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Hits 93 mph in simulated game
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) touched 93 mph during a one-inning simulated game Wednesday at the Dodgers' spring training complex in Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
It's not the velocity Buehler usually sits at, but given it was the pitcher's first time facing hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery -- his second such procedure-- last August, he and the team were very encouraged. "It went really well," manager Dave Roberts said of the session. "Much better than I expected." Buehler has acknowledged that his original goal of returning on Sept. 1 isn't realistic, as he will require a few more simulated games before going out on a rehab assignment. However, the righty remains confident he'll be able to help the Dodgers in some capacity before the end of the regular season, whether it's in a starting or relief role.
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Will face hitters this week
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) "will take the next step in his recovery by facing hitters in Arizona this week," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
It was reported last week that Buehler was close to beginning a rehab assignment, and while it's unclear if he will officially start one in the coming days, he appears ready to take another step in his recovery. Expect the Dodgers to release another update on his status following his upcoming session.
