Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler. D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers pitcher showing signs of old self while rehabbing for return

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 4/12/24

After making only 12 starts during the 2022 season, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler has not pitched in MLB action in over 22 months while recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Currently rehabbing with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, Buehler has started to show flashes of the pitcher who went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA during the 2021 season.

In his most recent start, the 29-year-old right-hander struck out six batters, allowing two hits and no runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He retired the first nine hitters he faced and didn't walk anyone. He finished the night throwing 42 of his 65 pitches for strikes.

Two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 first inning for Walker Buehler! pic.twitter.com/etHT2oZUpx
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) April 7, 2024

A big piece of the Dodgers' success since his debut in 2017, Buehler is 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 690 strikeouts in 638.1 innings pitched during his MLB career.

A team that is stacked with talent on the offensive side, the Dodgers are patiently awaiting Buehler's return.

Adding him to a solid rotation that features pitcher Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Bobby Miller would give the team a big boost.

With pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin all on the injured list, the Dodgers are currently relying on journeyman pitcher James Paxton and young righty Gavin Stone to fill in for them while they await their return.

While the Dodgers will likely be very cautious with Buehler during his rehab, if he continues to pitch like this, they might not be able to keep him in the minors much longer as the injury risk is the same as it would be in the big leagues.

The fourth-place finisher in the 2021 National League Cy Young Award race, he could be the missing piece to a team that is one of the favorites to win the World Series in 2024.

More must-reads: