PHOENIX — Walker Buehler’s last time on the mound at Chase Field represented a career milestone, a brief glimmer of light in a season marred by gray. Less than a month after making his first Opening Day start last April, the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander imposed his will on a helpless Arizona lineup, twirling nine innings in the first shutout of his career.
By the time he returned to that mound Wednesday, he looked different. He’s put on 15 pounds. There is additional scarring on his right elbow, a byproduct of Buehler now being a card-carrying member of the group of major-league pitchers to receive not one, but two Tommy John surgeries.
His season last year was a mess, a constant search for the right mechanics that was ultimately answered when Dr. Neal ElAttrache sliced open Buehler’s right elbow and discovered bone chips and fragments lodged into Buehler’s ulnar collateral ligament.
Buehler had surgery on Aug. 23 last year. Just about 12 months later, he faced his first batters, a collection of minor leaguers from the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League affiliate, in front of a crowd of club personnel keeping a watchful eye on the arm several have assumed was primed to take the torch of the rotation by the time he got hurt.
He threw just one inning, but it was something.
Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler sat around 92-93 mph with his fastball, with obvious room to grow as he continues to build up. Overall, it went fine, Buehler said. One outing against hitters doesn’t mark a successful rehab. He will probably have to throw another four or five before he can start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
But another checkpoint also means he’s another step closer to being back on a big-league mound when it counts, a break from the monotony of being on the sidelines.
“It’s been good,” Buehler said of the rehab process. “It stinks. But it is what it is.”
The 29-year-old right-hander has long been a curious sort. So, in his time on the sidelines, he’s sought answers not only to whatever was missing in his mechanics when he didn’t look like himself a year ago, but how to prevent another surgery.
That included a visit over the weekend to the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, Calif., where he was covered head to toe in wires for a motion capture and threw in front of Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness as well as Dr. Greg Rose and former big league pitcher and current consultant Tom House, whose list of clients varies from pitchers to golfers to even quarterbacks the caliber of Tom Brady.
“I’ve hurt my elbow twice now pretty seriously so there’s a part of, what’s in my delivery that isn’t working?” Buehler said. “While also trying to keep the things that do work well. I’m working on some mechanical stuff. We also toyed around with, ‘Hey, throw some balls like this,’ or with this cue, trying to figure out which one is the lowest-hanging fruit, I guess, or what fixes the most things at once.
“Now we’re going to try to alter how I train or how I practice to kind of clean up some of that stuff. All in all, I think it’s one of those things where I’m just trying to take care of myself and my body and coming back and being able to perform is the biggest thing.”
When he’ll be able to perform is the next-biggest thing for the Dodgers, who need the pitching enforcements. Buehler was bold in his proclamation earlier this year, targeting a Sept. 1 return to a major-league mound. He tempered those expectations some Wednesday, saying he hopes to at least be on a rehab assignment by that date.
“This surgery, a second Tommy John, is 14 to 18 months (standard rehab),” Buehler said. “If I step on a field this year, I’ll have blown that out of the water. So I’m pretty proud of where I am right now. I don’t think Sept. 1 is probably a reality, but I’m hoping sometime in September.”
The outlook, Roberts said, “is looking good.” Los Angeles needs it. Buehler’s first time facing hitters was accompanied by another surprise — former All-Star reliever Blake Treinen also faced hitters for the first time since offseason shoulder surgery, and saw notable velocity gains (from 86-87 mph in bullpens to 94 mph) in his session that seemingly makes his return more viable.
For a pitching staff that has uncharacteristically struggled this season (their 4.43 ERA entering Wednesday ranks 19th in baseball), those are good signs.
“The worst-case scenario is we’re gonna have some tough decisions (for October), which is a good thing,” Roberts said.
Required reading
(Photo: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Walker Buehler’s journey back to the mound has been a long and arduous one. After undergoing two Tommy John surgeries, Buehler is determined to make a successful comeback. He recently returned to the mound for the first time since his surgeries and showed promising signs of progress.
Buehler’s rehab process has been challenging, but he remains optimistic. He has been working on his mechanics and seeking advice from experts to prevent further injuries. His visit to the Titleist Performance Institute was part of his effort to fine-tune his delivery and improve his training methods.
The Dodgers are eagerly awaiting Buehler’s return. With their pitching staff struggling this season, they need all the reinforcements they can get. Buehler’s target return date of September 1st may be ambitious, but he hopes to at least start a rehab assignment by then. The team is hopeful that he will be back on the mound in September, providing a much-needed boost to their rotation.
In addition to Buehler, another key player, Blake Treinen, is also making progress in his recovery. Treinen, who underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, has seen a significant increase in velocity during his recent bullpen sessions. His potential return adds to the positive outlook for the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
Overall, the Dodgers are optimistic about Buehler’s progress and the potential impact he can have on the team. His return would be a welcome sight for a pitching staff that has struggled this season. With Buehler and Treinen on the mend, the Dodgers are hopeful that they will have tough decisions to make come October, indicating a strong and healthy roster.
As Buehler continues his rehab and works towards his return, the Dodgers and their fans eagerly await his comeback. The road has been long and challenging, but Buehler’s determination and resilience shine through. With his talent and dedication, there’s no doubt that he will make a significant impact when he finally steps back onto the big-league mound.