Dodgers' Walker Buehler Won't Return in 2023 amid Elbow Injury, Tommy John Recovery

The Los Angeles Dodgers won't get Walker Buehler back for a potential playoff run as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

On Friday, Buehler announced in a statement that after "many conversations" with his doctor, family and the team's front office and training staff, he is not in a position to pitch in the playoffs and looks forward to being "fully healthy" for the 2024 season.

The right-hander hasn't appeared in a game since June 10, 2022. He originally had surgery to remove bone spurs in his pitching elbow and was going to miss 10 to 12 weeks with a right flexor strain.

After his rehab wasn't progressing as planned and an MRI came back unclear, the Dodgers announced Buehler had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 23, 2022. It's the second time he's had the elbow reconstruction procedure. He previously had it in August 2015, two months after being drafted by the Dodgers out of Vanderbilt.

There was some hope that Buehler might be able to pitch down the stretch in the regular season and be ready for a role in the playoffs.

During his rehab process, Buehler told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya in August the typical recovery time from a second Tommy John surgery is 14 to 18 months.

"If I step on a field this year, I'll have blown that out of the water. So I'm pretty proud of where I am right now," Buehler said. "I don't think Sept. 1 is probably a reality, but I'm hoping sometime in September."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the plan was going to be for Buehler to make at least three rehab appearances before being called up to the MLB club.

Buehler did make one rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 3. He struck out two in two scoreless innings.

Shutting Buehler down further adds to the Dodgers' pitching questions going into the postseason. Tony Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery last week after being placed on the injured list on Aug. 19 due to right forearm inflammation. Dustin May had elbow surgery in July that could keep him out for 12 months.

Clayton Kershaw is at least healthy, but his fastball velocity averaged 88.4 mph in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins. He tied his season high with five walks and allowed two homers in the game.

MLB announced Wednesday that Julio Urías was placed on administrative leave in the wake of his arrest on felony domestic violence charges stemming from an alleged altercation in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

The Dodgers (85-54) lead the NL West by 13 games with 23 games remaining in the regular season. They are six games behind the Atlanta Braves for the best record in Major League Baseball.

Buehler has spent his entire professional career in the Dodgers organization. He has a 46-16 record with 690 strikeouts in 638.1 innings over 115 appearances in six seasons.