Los Angeles Dodgers' key pitcher, Edwin Díaz, is on the verge of rejoining the team after a lengthy recovery period following elbow surgery. His recent rehab assignment in Triple-A has shown promising results, and reports suggest his return to the major leagues could happen as early as next week. This development is crucial for the Dodgers, who have been managing their pitching rotation amidst several injuries. Díaz's return is expected to significantly bolster their bullpen as they continue their season.
Díaz made his initial rehabilitation appearance with the Oklahoma City Dodgers (OKC) in Sacramento. He is scheduled for at least one more outing this weekend, likely on Saturday, to complete his back-to-back pitching schedule. Following these appearances, there is a strong possibility that both Díaz and teammate Kiké Hernández will be activated in time for the Dodgers' upcoming homestand, which begins on July 28th. This timeline, reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic, indicates a rapid progression in Díaz's recovery and a potential immediate impact on the team.
Early in the season, Díaz, one of the Dodgers' major offseason acquisitions, began his tenure with considerable excitement, often accompanied by his distinctive trumpet entrance music. However, his promising start was cut short just a few weeks into the season when he was diagnosed with loose bodies in his throwing elbow, necessitating a stint on the injured list. This injury was later clarified to be five bone chips, which required surgical intervention and a rigorous rehabilitation process.
During his rehab with the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, Díaz provided insights into the nature of his injury and his recovery progress. He revealed that the "loose bodies" were indeed five bone chips that had been affecting his ability to pitch at full strength. With these removed, he expressed confidence in his improved velocity. "I think my velocity will keep improving. I feel good right now," Díaz stated. "Before, I think I had a little bit of a problem trying to throw hard because I had five bone chips in my elbow. I'm cleaned up now and I threw 98. I could not have thrown 98 earlier in the season so I'm going in the right direction." This renewed strength and confidence are vital for the Dodgers, especially given their significant investment in him—a three-year, $69 million contract.
The impending return of Edwin Díaz is viewed as a significant boost for the Los Angeles Dodgers, particularly given the challenges faced by their pitching staff due to injuries. Aaron Coloma of Dodgers Nation highlighted that a fully healthy Díaz is a formidable force and has previously demonstrated his capability with the team. As the Dodgers aim for a historic third consecutive National League title, Díaz's ability to return to his early-season form will be critical in achieving their championship aspirations. His rejoining the roster could provide the much-needed stability and dominance in their bullpen.
