A trio of injured Dodgers took part in batting practice on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, serving the purpose of facing a major league opponent in a simulated setting as part of the rehab.
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Emmet Sheehan, who pitched to Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman for the second time in a week (also doing so last Thursday at Chase Field in Phoenix), is rehabbing from a hybrid Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure last May 15. Edman in the dugout afterward gave a thumbs up and said Sheehan looked great.
“Everything I’ve heard, the delivery and the health has been fantastic, and he’s going to be a little sneaky pick to click some time later this summer,” manager Dave Roberts said of Sheehan. “I don’t have the timeline, but this guy’s put a lot of work. To have that type of velocity and command is going to be helpful at some point.”
Sheehan impressed in his 2023 debut season, coming up from Double-A and pitching his way onto the postseason roster. But he missed all of last season. He was all smiles in the Dodgers clubhouse on Wednesday, before heading out to continue his rehab at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.
He’ll likely have a few more times facing hitters before starting a minor league rehab assignment in actual games. A return some time around the All-Star break, maybe a bit before, still seems reasonable, but he’s getting closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“It feels great to have an arm that works now,” said Sheehan, who has been throwing 95-97 mph, per Roberts.
Edman and Hernández are much closer to being activated, but it likely won’t happen until after this weekend at the earliest. In addition to facing Sheehan on Wednesday, both Edman (right ankle inflammation) and Hernández (left groin strain) also did running drills.
With Andy Pages flourishing and taking an outfield spot, the bulk of Edman’s time this season has been in the infield, with 22 starts at second base compared to seven in center field. That ratio will likely continue to be infield-heavy once he returns, especially early.
“The lateral [movement], the infield defense has been fine, the hitting has been fine,” Roberts said. “When he gets to top speed, that’s where it gets a little tricky. In the outfield, running at full speed is where he gets held up a little bit.”
Roberts said Edman won’t need a minor league rehab assignment before being activated from the injured list, that the simulated at-bats he’s been getting have been sufficient. Hernández hasn’t yet decided whether he will play a minor league game or two. Low-A Rancho Cucamonga is local this week, playing Inland Empire in San Bernardino, which might be more conducive during a Dodgers homestand for a rehabbing player then, say, flying to Round Rock, Texas (where Triple-A Oklahoma City is playing).
