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Walker Buehler Targeting September Return From Tommy John Surgery

By Darragh McDonald | May 17, 2023 at 5:54pm CDT

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler spoke with members of the media this week, including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and J.P. Hoornstra of The Orange County Register, saying that he has September 1 as a target date to be back in the club’s rotation.

This makes for quite an aggressive timeline, as he underwent Tommy John surgery August 23 of last year. While some pitchers have returned within 12 months of the surgery in the past, the recovery period has become more cautious in recent years and returning that quickly has become rare. Furthermore, this is Buehler’s second TJS of his career, having first gone under the knife in 2015. A second procedure typically comes with a longer recovery period than the first, making his Buehler’s target all the more noteworthy.

“The day I had surgery, [Dr. Neal ElAttrache] told me it was one of the best surgeries he’s done,” Buehler said. “Maybe that was just him trying to make me feel good, but I’ve really taken it to heart.” As it’s laid out by Buehler, it seems that his ulnar collateral ligament wasn’t actually torn, as is usually the case for a Tommy John procedure. Rather, the culprit was bone chips and fragments in his elbow. While the ligament was still replaced, the overall structural integrity of the elbow wasn’t as bad as it normally would be for this surgery. “I don’t think anything has happened that would tell me that’s not an achievable goal,” Buehler said of his September target. He’s also open to returning in a relief role if he runs out of time but that decision will be made as the situation progresses.

Whether all of this actually leads to Buehler returning by the end of the season remains to be seen, but it would obviously be tremendous for both player and team if it did come to fruition. The righty has established himself as one of the better pitchers in the majors in recent years. From 2018 to 2021, he tossed 564 innings with a 2.82 ERA, 27.7% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate. The 14.3 wins above replacement he accrued in that time, per FanGraphs, was seventh among all pitchers in the majors. He wasn’t quite as effective last year, with his ERA spiking to 4.02 over 12 starts, though it’s possible the looming injury was already starting to affect him in that time.

Getting that kind of pitcher back just in time for the stretch run and postseason would be a nice late-season boost for the Dodgers, who are currently leading the National League West but with just a three-game lead over the Diamondbacks. The club currently has a five-man rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Noah Syndergaard, though the latter has struggled to a 5.94 ERA so far and May seems bound for the IL due to a flexor pronator strain. Younger pitchers like Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot have been in the mix but are both currently on the injured list, while Gavin Stone also got a spot start recently. It’s impossible to tell what shape the rotation will be in come September given the potential for other injuries or midseason trades, but there’s no doubt that peak Buehler would be an upgrade.

Buehler is making $8.025MM this year, his third of four arbitration seasons as a Super Two player. He’ll be eligible for one more pass through arbitration for 2024, likely making a similar salary due to missing most of 2023, after which he’s slated to reach free agency at the age of 30.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Walker Buehler

Dustin May Headed For IL Due To Flexor Pronator Strain
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View Comments (10)
Post a Comment

10 Comments

  1. Tom Price

    2 years ago

    …….Only to blow his elbow out

    1
    Reply
    • BeforeMcCourt

      2 years ago

      Did you read the article? He didn’t blow out the ligament a second time at all…

      Reply
  2. avenger65

    2 years ago

    Sounds similar to the surgery Harper had. Hopefully he’ll be back this season since, the way this season has gone, there will likely be someone on the IL when he returns.

    Reply
  3. DCartrow

    2 years ago

    I think The Happenings sang about this in 1966.

    1
    Reply
    • Gwynning

      2 years ago

      Nice reference. Coincidentally, “The Happening” is also my favorite Pixies song and Walker is reminiscent of an otherworldly talent.

      Reply
  4. bronxmac77

    2 years ago

    And there’s a concurrent article about Dustin May’s elbow. Irony can be pretty ironic.

    Reply
  5. Pads Fans

    2 years ago

    So he is hoping to be back around the same time as Dustin May.

    Reply
  6. neurogame

    2 years ago

    As much as I would like to see Walker back soon, he won’t be a free agent until age 30. He’s likely got one big shot at a huge contract. He hopefully he takes his career, health and livelihood into consideration.

    Reply
    • BeforeMcCourt

      2 years ago

      Can always sign a pillow contract and re-enter at 31. But your point is still valid, he will make a lot more money if he can come back and re-establish himself entering his traditional FA rather than delaying a year

      Reply
  7. Butter Biscuits

    2 years ago

    I think he should consider a closer role in the future like Smoltz did I think he would excel in it.

    Reply

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