“FINALLY, THIS DAY HAS COME.” – Dodgers’ Walker Buehler Will Make 2024 Debut This Weekend

Walker Buehler faced six batters in a Triple-A rehab game last September. He retired them all with only 24 pitches.

Since June 2022, when Buehler was prescribed Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair, that’s been the extent of his competitive experience on a mound in a game that counts.

Sunday, Buehler will officially resume his comeback with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma, Washington, where he’ll make his first rehabilitation start of 2024.

Walker Buehler starts Sunday for AAA Oklahoma City, Dave Roberts said.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 29, 2024
For the Dodgers, it’s a double-dose of good news.

Buehler will effectively pick up where he left off after Monday’s simulated game against teammates at Dodger Stadium. In that session, Buehler threw 60 pitches over four innings — a full day’s work for many starters by today’s standards.

By getting five innings of work Sunday, Buehler will basically be ready to step into a major league game provided his stuff his sharp enough. Historically, that hasn’t been a problem.
Even in 2022, as he tried to avoid season-ending surgery, Buehler was averaging 95.2 mph with his fastball and getting batters to chase at 75 percent of the pitches he threw, per Statcast.

The Dodgers held out hope until late September last year that Buehler could be part of their postseaon pitching staff in some capacity. In the end, the Dodgers decided to give their former first-round pick an entire offseason of rest and rehab, with an opportunity to come back strong in 2024.

After Sunday, the Dodgers will have a good idea just how strong Buehler looks.

Photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports