Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Provides Unsettling Update on Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler has been throwing bullpen sessions over the first few weeks of spring training, trying to ramp up for the season.
Buehler won't be ready for the start of the season, and appears to be targeting a mid-May return. However, things aren't exactly going as planned at the moment.
Los Angeles Dodger manager Dave Roberts provided an update on Buehler to reporters including the Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett, and said Buehler is "still searching" in his bullpen sessions.
“He’s still working through some things in his delivery. But he’ll get there,” Roberts said. “The most important thing is that the teeth of the baseball is good. And the life of the baseball coming out is good as well. Walker is a guy that has really good feel for his body, body awareness, where his hand is supposed to be. He’s just not repeating it, and getting the feels that he feels like he needs to have.”
Buehler hasn't pitched at the MLB level since June 2022. He suffered an elbow injury in his last start against the San Francisco Giants, exited early, and ended up undergoing his second Tommy John surgery.
Since then, the 29-year-old has been working hard to get back on the mound but has suffered some setbacks.
Buehler attempted to make a late season return last year, but was shut down after one rehab start.
Now, he's going to have a late start to the 2024 season, and still doesn't appear close to regaining his form.
Buehler has been sitting around 92 mph in bullpen sessions, and ultimately wants to get back to being the All-Star pitcher he once was. For now, though, he's just trying to get back to being a pitcher.
