Injuries & Moves: Sheehan undergoes season-ending elbow surgery
LATEST NEWS
May 16: RHP Emmet Sheehan has season-ending elbow surgery
The 24-year-old has been on the 60-day injured list since late March after experiencing right forearm inflammation in his first bullpen session of the spring. He was expected to be out two months but underwent successful surgery on Wednesday that will end his 2024 season.
Sheehan pitched in 13 games for the Dodgers last season, going 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings.
“It wasn’t a major setback, just from what I heard, [but] it wasn’t responding the way he had hoped, the way we had hoped,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think at that point and time, with the information he was getting, getting the surgery was the right decision.”
May 16: LHP Nick Ramirez recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City; RHP Eduardo Salazar optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City
Ramirez, 34, returns to the Dodgers for his third stint with the big league club this season. In five games with Los Angeles, Ramirez a 1.29 ERA (one earned run on four hits across seven innings).
Salazar, 26, made his debut with the Dodgers on Wednesday night in San Francisco, allowing one run in two innings in relief of spot starter Elieser Hernández.
INJURY UPDATES
RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025 (as a pitcher)
Ohtani threw for the first time on March 26 since undergoing right elbow surgery in September, getting out to 45 feet. Manager Dave Roberts said that the two-way star is "anxious ... to continue to get going and keep moving forward." Roberts reiterated in March that Ohtani will not pitch this season. (Last updated: March 25)
10-day/15-day injured list
OF Jason Heyward (lower back tightness)
Expected return: Mid-to-late May
Heyward had seven plate appearances over two games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week, and was back in Los Angeles as the team assessed his status. The Dodgers could activate Heyward as soon as May 17. He was 3-for-14 over his first four games of the season, but hasn’t played since March 30. (Last updated: May 16)
RHP Evan Phillips (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Mid-to-late May
Phillips took his biggest step in his recovery so far on May 15, throwing off a mound. The session went as expected, and he could have another throwing session off a mound on May 18. Phillips hasn’t stopped throwing since suffering the injury on May 4. There remains “no expectation” on when he will return. (Last updated: May 16)
RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Late May or early June
Miller is making promising steps toward a return, as the right-hander threw two simulated innings on May 15 and his velocity was as expected, according to manager Dave Roberts. The next step is to assess how Miller came out of the session with either another simulated game or a Minor League rehab assignment. (Last updated: May 16)
RHP Joe Kelly (right posterior shoulder)
Expected return: Late May
Kelly was unexpectedly placed on the 15-day injured list before the May 6 game against the Marlins. It’s unclear how much time Kelly will be forced to miss, but the right-hander joins a long list of Dodgers relievers to be placed on the IL this season. (Last updated: May 6)
RHP Ryan Brasier (calf strain)
Expected return: TBD
Brasier pulled his right calf muscle while doing some sprinting as part of his regular warmups before the Dodgers' game against the D-backs on April 29 and was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 28. An MRI on April 30 revealed the strain was mild. (Last updated: April 30)
RHP Connor Brogdon (right plantar fasciitis)
Expected return: TBD
Brogdon, who was acquired from the Phillies in April, went on the injured list for the first time this season. The right-hander gave up a pair of solo home runs in his one appearance with the Dodgers. (Last updated: April 13)
60-day IL
RHP Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Sheehan suffered an injury in his first bullpen session of the spring and never got into Cactus League action. The right-hander had started throwing to hitters for the first time, but on May 16 the Dodgers announced that he had undergone successful surgery on his right elbow that would end his 2024 season. (Last updated: May 16)
LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: After the All-Star break
Kershaw completed his second bullpen session of his rehab on May 7, throwing 20 pitches. The likely future Hall of Famer has been progressing well and the Dodgers have been encouraged with his recovery. Kershaw is still a few months away from returning, but the 'pens are a big step in the right direction for the left-hander. (Last updated: May 7)
RHP Kyle Hurt (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: No earlier than June
Hurt went on the injured list for the first time in his big league career, retroactive to April 17. It’s unclear when Hurt sustained the injury and how long he’ll be sidelined. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hurt doesn’t have to undergo further testing, which could be a good sign. The right-hander has a 1.35 ERA over 6 2/3 innings in three appearances this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 27. (Last updated: April 27)
RHP Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Mid- to late May
Graterol won’t be able to return until some point in mid-May, but the right-hander began his progression on April 15, throwing a “good” bullpen session, according to manager Dave Roberts. Graterol was the Dodgers’ best reliever last season. (Last updated: April 15)
RHP Dustin May (right flexor tendon surgery)
Expected return: 2024
After six weeks without picking up a baseball, scans revealed that May needed to undergo right elbow surgery to repair his flexor tendon. The surgery took place on July 18 and was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. There’s no firm timetable for May’s return, but a second major elbow surgery in the past three seasons puts much of his '24 in doubt. The Dodgers placed him on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2024 season. (Last updated: Feb. 9)
RHP Tony Gonsolin (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery on Sept. 1, performed by team doctor Neal ElAttrache. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 19 with what was diagnosed as right forearm inflammation. Gonsolin also was placed on the IL late in the 2022 season with a right forearm strain. He started the '23 campaign on the IL with a left ankle sprain and was 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts. He had been dealing with arm soreness for an extended period before he went on the IL. The Dodgers placed Gonsolin on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 9. (Last updated: Feb. 9)