Dodgers News: Ryan Pepiot Completes Fourth Rehab Start, Closing in on Return

Ryan Pepiot is continuing to make progress as the young pitcher completed his fourth rehab start on Tuesday. This news comes at a good time as pitching arms, specifically starting pitching, are a very big need for the Dodgers team as they look to establish solid arms gearing up for the postseason.

Communications Director for the OKC Dodgers, Alex Freedman, reported Pepiot's promising rehab start on Tuesday.

Ryan Pepiot's fourth rehab start:

4.0 IP | 3 H | R | ER | BB | 4 K | HR

70 pitches/46 strikes

Only run on a leadoff homer. Retired 9 of final 10, with the only batter reaching on an error during that time.

IMHO, stuff seems fine. Command getting there. #Dodgers
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) August 2, 2023

In 2022, the young prospect showed promise in his limited starts and innings. He pitched 36.1 innings, starting 7 games, and ending with a 3-0 record and a respectable 3.47 ERA. The biggest criticism of him was his lack of control on getting putaway pitches in the zone, allowing for 27 walked batters in those 36.1 innings.

The 25-year-old pitcher earned his spot as the Dodgers' fifth arm in the starting rotation this season. Looking very promising during Spring Training, Pepiot was using his famous changeup and using it well.

Ryan Pepiot's 3Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/pHvm0xbqhA
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 9, 2023

Days after his role was announced, the young hurler suffered an oblique injury that landed him on the IL and the pitcher hasn't thrown a regular season Major League pitch in 2023 yet.

Slow healing stunted his recovery path and has kept him out longer than the All-Star break, while the team's hope was for him to return at some point in May. Well, it is now August, and fans and management are finally seeing the finish line, as he was activated off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, per Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com

The Dodgers activated RHP Ryan Pepiot from the 60-day injured list and DFA'd RHP Tyson Miller, per the team's transaction log. Pepiot was optioned to Triple-A.

Pepiot hasn't pitched all year after injuring his oblique at the end of spring training. He's finally nearing a return.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 2, 2023

What Does This Mean for the Dodgers Moving Forward?

Hopefully, a return sooner rather than later for Pepiot will provide time for him to get a couple months with the ballclub facing Major League hitters before the postseason starts. Arms are needed for this ballclub right now and one just might be on the way.