Dodgers Roster News: Who Will Open the Season on the Injured List?
The Los Angeles Dodgers may have a full roster right now, but in a few days, they’re going to have a good amount of open spots. The Dodgers have a handful of players who are going to open the season on the injured list, many of them going to the 60-day IL to start the year. If you’re wondering who’s not going to be ready to start the year, and when they’ll possibly return this season, you’re in the right place.
Let’s start with the more sure things of who’s going to be starting the year on the 60-day IL.
Long-Term Injuries
Walker Buehler – The 28-year-old is going to open the season on the 60-day IL, with no timetable for a return. Buehler is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and is hoping to make a return later this season. I wouldn’t expect to see Buehler until September at the earliest, but he has started throwing the ball, which is a good sign toward his recovery.
Alex Reyes – The new Dodger reliever will also be moved to the 60-day IL to start the season. Reyes, who signed a one-year deal with the team in the middle of February, told DodgersNation.com earlier this spring that he’s targeting a June or July return. He’s going to turn out to be an incredible addition when he suits up, but don’t expect to see him early in the year.
J.P. Feyereisen – Another guy the Dodgers added this offseason, Feyereisen is recovering from shoulder surgery, and will likely not be ready to return until much later in the year. I think he’ll be in a similar position to where RHP Tommy Kahnle was last year, where he’ll return late in the year, and fight for a spot on the postseason roster.
Blake Treinen – The 34-year-old RHP underwent shoulder surgery this offseason that could keep him out for the entire season. There’s a chance he returns late in the year, but I’m not holding out hope.
Gavin Lux – This one hurts. But, technically, Lux will be moved to the 60-day IL once the season starts, opening up a roster spot. Ugh.
Potential Longer-Term Injuries
The next category is the potential longer-term injuries, of guys who could end up starting the season on the IL.
Jimmy Nelson – The 33-year-old right-hander has struggled mightily this spring. There’s no way he opens the season on the opening day roster, but since he’s on a major league deal, the Dodgers will either have to cut him or put him on the IL. As he works his way back from a long-term injury, I expect him to start the year on the IL. It could be a short-term IL, but if the Dodgers think he needs a long time in his recovery, he may just go straight to the 60-day injured list.
Daniel Hudson – Recovering from a torn ACL and ankle tendinitis, Hudson was hoping to be ready for opening day — that’s not happening anymore. The Dodgers don’t seem to know exactly how long it will take Hudson to be fully back, or they’re just not saying it. However, it does feel likely he starts the season on the injured list, likely the 15-day.
Short-Term Injuries
Finally, there’s the for sure short-term injuries, also known as Tony Gonsolin’s category.
Tony Gonsolin – There’s a good chance Gonsolin opens the season on the 15-day IL, as I don’t think he’s going to be able to make his first or second start of the season. However, this injury isn’t likely to linger, and he should hopefully be good for a return sometime in April.
The Dodgers have been hit with the injury bug this spring, but hopefully, this is the end of it, and the rest of the roster is finalized soon enough. Also, hopefully, Gonsolin and Hudson are able to get back on the active roster sooner rather than later.
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