The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without Evan Phillips indefinitely as it was recently announced that he will undergo Tommy John surgery.
It is another brutal pitching update for the Dodgers as there are 15 pitchers on the injured list, and one of the most effective arms in Phillips will be shelved for at least another calendar year. The right-hander spoke on his devastation surrounding the decision to go under the knife.
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“It’s going to be hard to be away from the game for this long,” Phillips said. “Ultimately, there is not much I can do about it, and I do have that clear path forward to where we’ll attack this thing head on, rehab it, and hopefully get back to being a best version of myself in the second part of next year and be a part of that championship run.”
Phillips is eyeing a potential return around next season’s All-Star break, given the 12-15 month timelines that the full Tommy John has proven to sideline players, barring setbacks.
Phillips did not allow an October earned run last season through 6.2 innings up until Game 6 of the NLCS. Unfortunately, a tear in Phillips’ rotator cuff was found and he was forced to miss the World Series.
Since then, Phillips was rehabbing his shoulder all offseason and picked up where he left off this past April. The reliever made seven appearances and allowed no earned runs this season, but made his way to the injured list with forearm discomfort, was eventually transferred to the 60-day IL three weeks later, and then the decision was made to go forward with the surgery.
Manager Dave Roberts spoke on the unfortunate circumstances for one of his best relievers.
“It’s surprising,” Roberts said. “More disappointed for Evan, but he just wasn’t responding to the rest and then trying to ramp back up. Ultimately, (surgery) was kind of the advice and the route he decided to go.”
All Phillips can do now is stay on the path to recovery and hope to one day get back on the mound and contribute to the Dodgers’ bullpen.
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