On Sunday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave a little chuckle when he assured Japanese reporters that he’s optimistic about bouncing back from his shoulder injury before the MLB season wraps up. He’s been out of action since June 15, thanks to a strained rotator cuff, but he’s keeping his spirits high.
“I’m confident,” Yamamoto said, beaming with his usual positivity. “I just want to recover as quickly as possible and push my rehab in the right direction.”
Despite his upbeat attitude, there’s still no official timeline for Yamamoto’s return. The Dodgers, along with their star right-hander, haven’t pinned down a target date yet. This uncertainty looms especially large as MLB’s trade deadline looms on July 30.
Yamamoto, who made headlines this offseason with his jaw-dropping $325 million deal with the Dodgers, hasn’t pitched since his injury. However, the silver lining is that he’s now pain-free. He’s been working hard on his flat-ground throws, gradually increasing the distance. Manager Dave Roberts noted that Yamamoto has been reaching about 200 feet during his catch sessions, which is a promising sign. This progress hints that bullpen sessions might be on the horizon for the 25-year-old pitcher.
“I’m at the stage where I’m ramping up both distance and intensity,” Yamamoto explained. “Everything feels like it’s moving in a really positive direction.”
Still, there’s no concrete date for when he might return to the mound or start a minor-league rehab stint. The Dodgers are eagerly hoping for his return, especially since the playoffs are on the horizon and they could really use him in their rotation. If Yamamoto does come back, Roberts believes he’ll be a game-changer. “He would definitely make a significant impact,” Roberts said.
For now, though, the Dodgers are in a bit of a bind as the trade deadline approaches. They’re caught between a rock and a hard place. If they were confident Yamamoto would return to his pre-injury form—when he was rocking a 2.92 ERA and a 6-2 record—they might be less inclined to chase another top-tier pitcher. Given the current market, where ace-caliber arms are scarce, that would be a huge relief.
Conversely, if the Dodgers were certain Yamamoto’s season was over, they might be more willing to part with some top prospects to snag a high-quality pitcher like Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox or, if they’re lucky, Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. The team’s situation is “tricky,” as Roberts put it, with Yamamoto, Max Muncy, Walker Buehler, and others all uncertain for the postseason.
Roberts doesn’t expect a major breakthrough on Yamamoto’s recovery in the next ten days. “I don’t think we’ll get a lot of new information before the deadline,” Roberts said, hinting at the uncertainty surrounding Yamamoto’s status.
During a recent chat with reporters, Yamamoto mentioned that while his recovery hasn’t been slower than expected, he’s understandably frustrated to have his rookie season cut short after just 14 starts. “It’s very upsetting not being able to pitch,” he admitted. “But I’m channeling those feelings into my rehab. I believe that will help me return as soon as possible.”
The Dodgers are definitely keeping their fingers crossed for Yamamoto’s full recovery and hope he’ll get back to his early-season form in time for the playoffs. But as the days go by, the clock is ticking on their hopes.
In other team news, outfielder Jason Heyward was activated from the injured list just before Sunday’s game. He had been out for two weeks due to a knee contusion. To make room, James Outman, who was struggling, was sent back to the minors. Heyward had been in a rough patch before his injury, batting just .203, and this marked his second stint on the IL this season.
Outman, who had a rough start to the season and was briefly demoted in mid-May, didn’t exactly light up the stats in Heyward’s absence, hitting only three-for-15.
On the rehab front, injured relievers Brusdar Graterol and Michael Grove are starting their minor-league rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City. They might need five to seven outings before they’re back in the big leagues. Ryan Brasier is also nearing a rehab assignment, according to Roberts.
With all these moving parts, the Dodgers have a lot to juggle as they head into the final stretch of the season and make critical decisions leading up to the trade deadline.
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