Walker Buehler’s return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation will not come until the 2024 season.
Buehler had been open about his hopes to return before the end of this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery for a second time in July 2022. The accepted timetable for TJ recovery is usually 15 months, but Buehler attacked his rehab and vowed to return sooner.
He pitched two innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment Sunday, returning to the mound in a competitive game for the first time since June 10, 2022.
But the Dodgers and Buehler announced Friday that he would not be rejoining them until 2024. Buehler is not expected to make any more rehab appearances for OKC.
“My goal since last year has been to return to a Major League mound this season,” Buehler said in a statement released by the Dodgers. “After many conversations with my doctor, the Dodgers’ front office, training staff and my family, we concluded that waiting until next season is the right course of action. I am disappointed that I will not be able to help this team go after a title in the 2023 postseason, but I look forward to returning fully healthy in 2024 and bringing another World Series to L.A.”
In a best-case scenario, Buehler would have returned before the end of the season and then pitched for them in the postseason, though limited in how many innings he could pitch at a time. The Dodgers would likely have set up a ‘piggyback’ arrangement with another pitcher like left-hander Ryan Yarbrough or rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan.
Instead, the Dodgers’ starting pitching options for the postseason continue to get slimmer. Earlier this week, left-hander Julio Urias was placed on administrative leave while MLB investigates his arrest last weekend. Urias is not expected to rejoin the Dodgers this season either.
Two other starters, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, have had season-ending surgeries.