In recent updates, Los Angeles Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, shared insights into Walker Buehler’s anticipated return for the 2024 season. Buehler, a two-time Tommy John surgery patient, has shown resilience and determination in his recovery, pushing to rejoin the Dodgers’ pitching staff. During a recent interview, Friedman expressed optimism about Buehler’s comeback, describing him as a fierce competitor and noting that his rehabilitation has progressed well.
The Dodgers are cautious, though, about reintroducing him too quickly and may implement workload management strategies to keep him fresh, especially for the postseason.
While the exact plan for Buehler’s role isn’t fully set, the team could start him off in a slightly limited capacity within the rotation or even explore a bullpen role if that aligns better with his recovery. The addition of starters like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow this offseason provides the Dodgers with the flexibility to be patient with Buehler, ensuring his long-term health while adding depth to their pitching staff.
This approach, Friedman noted, aims to balance both Buehler’s contributions and the organization’s broader aspirations for the season
