Dodgers Executive Provides Latest Update on Walker Buehler's Health

The Dodgers will be getting back one of their key players from previous years this coming season. Los Angeles will be welcoming back starting pitcher Walker Buehler after he missed the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Buehler had been one of the better pitchers for the Dodgers before his injury, so he will be a welcomed sight back into the rotation. He almost made his return to the mound at the end of last season but halted everything to make sure he was fully healthy.

The right-hander is expected to be ready to go for next season, but the team may take a hesitant approach with him. There have been reports that they could delay his start to the year to ensure he is ready for the postseason. 

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman interviewed with Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM recently and provided an update on Buehler's health.

“Walker is the ultimate competitor, and so much of him coming back last October was kind of driven by him, even with it not being the safest thing in the world from his standpoint. But it just speaks to who he is, and his willingness to help us win. There were some outings last September on this rehab path where he looked like vintage Walker Buehler. And just for us, trying to look out for his next 10, 12 years, it wasn’t smart to keep dialing up the intensity, and to add that. He’s had a pretty normal offseason. We’re really confident he’s going to be in a really good spot."

Per Andrew Friedman via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM

Buehler has been one of the best pitchers in the game, so the Dodgers are looking forward to him returning to form. But taking it easy with him does make some sense. 

L.A. needs him come playoff time, and they likely can survive different parts of the season without him. The most important part of his 2024 season is getting fully back into a rhythm, and not rushing everything.

The Dodgers, however, are deciding how exactly to go about it. They could either delay his start to the season, or give him a break in the middle of the year.

"Now it’s just about, what’s the prudent thing to do in terms of workload? The question is, when do we do it, how do we ease him in – whether it’s easing him in on the front end, whether it’s building up some workload and getting some fatigue on him and protecting him there in the middle, we don’t know yet. Still really confident that he’s going to be a big part of what we do this year.”

Per Andrew Friedman via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM

Buehler has become a staple in the rotation, so the fanbase will be excited whenever he takes the mound again.