Dodgers News: Updates on Four Injured Relievers Working Their Way Back

The Dodgers have four relievers currently on the 60-day injured list who are hoping or planning to come back this season. We know the plan for Blake Treinen, who has completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and is expected to be activated on Friday.

Let’s take a look at where the other three are in their rehab process, plus one more who hopes to return from the 15-day IL soon.

Yency Almonte

Almonte has been on the 15-day injured list since August 7 with “elbow tightness,” and while both Almonte and manager Dave Roberts downplayed the severity of the injury at the time, his recovery has been slow going.

But there was a significant step in his progress on Wednesday: his first bullpen session.

Yency Almonte said he’s throwing a bullpen session today. First time he’s going off a mound since going on the IL.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 31, 2022

Now word yet on how the session went, but we should hear more from Roberts soon.

Danny Duffy

Duffy hasn’t pitched in the big leagues in over 13 months, a couple weeks before the Royals traded him to the Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline. He had two rehab appearances in the Arizona Complex League, then bumped up and threw an inning with High-A Rancho Cucamonga. On Wednesday, we got word that he was moving up to Triple-A.

Danny Duffy is the latest #Dodgers rehabber to join OKC. He has arrived in Round Rock and is scheduled to pitch at some point tonight.

— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) August 31, 2022

Duffy pitched one inning on Wednesday night, facing three batters and striking out all three. He threw a total of 14 pitches, 10 for strikes.

Here's a good look at the performance from Danny Duffy for OKC tonight. He threw 9 4 seam fastballs that were 91-93, 3 changeups that were 85-86, and one curveball at 75. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/7S2US8tcJm

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) September 1, 2022

Victor Gonzalez

Gonzalez also hasn’t pitched in the big leagues in over a year. He has been at OKC for about 11 days, and things were going really well until Tuesday night, when the first four hitters he faced went single, walk, homer. He got out of the inning after that, but it’s not exactly the type of performance you’re hoping to put up when you’re battling to get back to the big leagues.

Tommy Kahnle

Kahnle has thrown just five innings in the majors in the last three years, four of them with the Dodgers earlier this year. He’s made three rehab appearances with OKC in the past week, and while none of them have been totally clean, there hasn’t been much damage other than a two-run homer in his first appearance. The Dodgers haven’t laid out a timeline for his rehab or when they hope to have him back in the big leagues.

Realistically, there’s probably not room for all these guys in the majors. If Almonte can get healthy, he has been dominant enough for Los Angeles that he’s a no-brainer to be added back to the roster. But with everyone else, the team will have to weigh the potential contributions from the returning player against the contributions of whoever is currently occupying that roster spot.

Dave Roberts didn’t name any names the other day, but he did say “there aren’t enough spots for all of them.” With the way the team is built, and with the imminent returns of Treinen, Almonte, Clayton Kershaw, and Tony Gonsolin, there might not be enough spots for any of them.

BIG Dodgers Roster/Injury Update: Graterol to IL, Miguel Vargas Replacing Hanser? Treinen & More!

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!