Monday marked the most important injury comeback in baseball. Shohei Ohtani faced live pitching in 169 days as he has quickly moved with his progression this spring after offseason elbow surgery. Then, there was the $700 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His first look in a Dodgers uniform could very well be on Opening Day at the Gocheok Skydome in Seoul on March 20. Ohtani isn’t the only player who is coming back from surgery as many well-known names are slowly making their way back.
These are the most important injury comebacks of the spring.
Shohei Ohtani spoke to the media and shared his confidence in being ready to go for the season opener in Korea. pic.twitter.com/flglDGoFWr
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) February 22, 2024
Important Injury Comebacks to Watch
Jacob deGrom/Max Scherzer, Texas Rangers
Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer aren’t the only Rangers players with injuries. There’s also Corey Seager and Tyler Mahle. Out of the four-pack, only Seager has any shot to be ready by Opening Day. General manager Chris Young said all three pitchers are set to return this summer. deGrom played catch twice last week when the Rangers opened spring training camp. The former New York Met had Tommy John in June, and he will continue the standard course of recovery with 25 more throws in the meantime. He’s throwing from 40 feet on flat ground, as he is still weeks away from pitching on the mound.
Scherzer missed the final six weeks of the 2023 season due to a muscle strain his right shoulder. He was able to make three starts for the Rangers during their World Series run. After having back surgery in December, the right-hander won’t be cleared to throw until at least March 7. The Rangers hope he’s available in June like deGrom and Mahle.
Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers rotation is no joke and they’ll be a forced to be reckon with. Their new additions are set to be spectacular, but their best pitcher over the last few seasons won’t be ready to pitch. Walker Buehler All-Star is unlikely to pitch in spring training as manager Dave Roberts failed to give a timeframe for a return. Buehler last pitched in June 2022 after suffering an elbow injury that later resulted in Tommy John surgery. Los Angeles have been without their ace for a year and a half and when he returns, he can establish himself as the best pitcher in the rotation. He owns a 46-16 lifetime record with a 3.02 ERA, 690 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP in 638 1/3 innings.
Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
Chris Sale has spent the past four seasons limited by multiple injuries. Has he finally turned a corner? Sale is looking forward to a fresh start with Atlanta, who acquired him from the Boston Red Sox for Vaughn Grishom. The left-hander put up Hall of Fame numbers when he finished in the top six in American League Cy Young Award voting in seven straight seasons (2012-2018). A clean start to the season doesn’t guarantee that Sale will be able to a take on 30-plus starts in the rotation for Atlanta.
Edwin Díaz, New York Mets
Edwin Díaz is finally back from a brutal injury that sidelined him for all of 2023. Losing their closer during the World Baseball Classic was the first of many blows for New York. It eventually resonated throughout the year, shfiting roles for the entirety of the New York’s bullpen. Just 11 months removed from surgery, the Mets are going to take is slow with their elite closer. It’s well thought strategy from Mets manager Carlos Mendoza along with the coaching and training staff. The Mets need Díaz to be the elite closer he was back in 2022. Back then, he posted a 1.21 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 32 saves with 118 strikeouts in 62 innings.
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