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LA Dodgers' ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has been sidelined since June 15 due to a strained rotator cuff, seems to be recovering well in his bid to return to the mound.
On Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that the hurler was throwing a bullpen session in the afternoon.
“Yoshinobu Yamamoto is throwing a bullpen session right now, his second time off a mound since going on the IL in June,” Ardaya wrote on X.
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Amid a slew of injuries to the rotation, the return of Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw has been the only positive update for the Dodgers so far. Another addition in the form of Yoshinobu Yamamoto should settle the unit.
Before hitting the injured list in June, the Japanese ace had gone 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 14 starts. This number justified his 12-year, $325 million contract in the offseason.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto desires to return soon, early September return a possibility
The Japanese hurler threw his first bullpen session on Friday. After the game, he met with reporters, where he expressed his desire to return to the mound soon.
“I just want to recover as quickly as possible and direct my rehabilitation in a way to make that happen,” Yamamoto said through interpreter. [via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times].
“It’s very upsetting to not be able to pitch in a game,” he added. “I think that by carrying those feelings into my rehabilitation, it will lead to me returning as early as possible.”
Despite his wish, it is highly unlikely Yoshinobu Yamamoto will return by the end of August. This bullpen session will be followed by facing live hitters and a couple of rehab assignments before he gets clearance to return to the major league mound. Assuming all goes well without any setbacks, an early September return is a good possibility.
That should give the pitcher a good one-month period of pitching to build himself up and be ready for a potential deep postseason run in October.
