Dodgers Officially Activate Walker Buehler, Place Joe Kelly on Injured List

Six hundred and ninety-six days.

That’s how long it’s been since Walker Buehler last pitched in Major League Baseball.

On Monday, that number will finally updated.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have offically activated right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler off the 15-day injured list to start Monday night’s game against the Miami Marlins. To make room on the active roster, right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly was placed on the injured list with right posterior shoulder strain.

Kelly joins a long list of Dodgers pitchers on the injured list, and is another key member of the bullpen now out for the foreseeable future.

Buehler will be making his first start since June 2022, as he’s been rehabbing his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler attempted to make a return late last season, but the team elected to shut him down and get fully healthy for 2024.

This year, the Dodgers chose to delay his start again, as they were more focused on him being healthy in October rather than the beginning of the season. So, about six weeks into the year, Buehler will be making his long-awaited return to the mound.

The last time we saw a healthy Buehler, he was among the best pitchers in baseball.

In 2021, Buehler went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 33 starts and 207.2 innings pitched. He had 212 strikeouts and made his second All-Star team while finishing a career-best fourth in National League Cy Young voting.

In 2022, Buehler was dealing with injuries, which ultimately ended his season in June and forced him to undergo a second Tommy John surgery.

However, Buehler is getting back to his old form, and made six rehab starts, with his final one being his best. Last Tuesday, he allowed one earned run across five innings of work with seven strikeouts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Buehler to be himself when he takes the mound on Monday night for the first time in almost two years.

As for Buehler, he expects a lot of adrenaline, and maybe even some butterflies.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports