Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes Provides Update on Walker Buehler

The Dodgers’ rotation is going to look leaps and bounds better than it did last year when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. But it won’t look perfect.

Walker Buehler, who’s working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, is unlikely to be ready come Opening Day in Seoul, South Korea.

The Dodgers are taking a more cautious approach to Buehler’s recovery, as they know they need to take care of the right arm of their 29-year-old ace — one of their aces, that is.

Either way, the Dodgers don’t want to rush Buehler back, as they’re prioritizing him being healthy come October rather than having him ready in March. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke to Alanna Rizzo of MLB Network and provided an update on Buehler’s recovery.

“We’ve had ongoing conversations with Walker and want to make sure that we’re going step by step and not jumping too far ahead,” Gomes said. “He’s feeling really good right now in his throwing program and we’re going to continue to progress him in a smart way. And our goal, as is Walker’s, is to have him at his best towards the end of the season and hopefully for a deep playoff run.”

Buehler likely isn’t going to be cleared to pitch during the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Seoul, South Korea. He’s unlikely to be cleared by Opening Day back in Los Angeles, too.

Whether he returns in late March, April, or even May doesn’t really matter — all that matters is he’s healthy come the end of the season.

The Dodgers saw what happened in 2023 when they didn’t have a healthy rotation come October, and they want to ensure they’re doing everything they can to prevent that from happening again. If that means delaying Buehler’s 2024 debut, so be it.

The Dodgers can still roll with a potential Opening Day rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan — at least as of now.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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