Dodgers' Edwin Diaz Provides Injury Update, Return Timeline After Elbow Surgery

Edwin Díaz has no doubt he will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2026 season ends despite undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.

"Right now, just a couple days after surgery, I can move my arm really good," Díaz said Monday, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "My range of motion is completely back to normal, so that's something I like. Just get stronger and be ready for the second half."

He also said he is "100 percent" confident he will return and removing the loose bodies so early in the season was "a best-case scenario."

Gonzalez explained that imaging found five fragments of bone or cartilage floating in his right throwing elbow, while Díaz said they were causing him pain for the first time even though there have been loose bodies in his elbow since 2012.

Los Angeles hopes he returns by July or August.

"Now, after surgery, I'm getting close to what I was," Díaz said of a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph in 2025 and 95.7 in the early going in 2026.

This is Díaz's first season with the Dodgers after he previously pitched for the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. While he missed the 2023 campaign because of injury, he was an All-Star in Seattle in 2018 and in New York in 2022 and 2025.

Yet he looked nothing like an All-Star in his first seven appearances with Los Angeles with a 10.50 ERA, 2.33 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in six innings. By comparison, he posted a 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP while notching 28 saves last season for the Mets.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, they have talent all over the roster and can easily tread water until he is ready to return even if the bullpen is something of a concern compared to a dominant lineup and starting rotation filled with impressive arms.

Look for Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia to get the late-game opportunities with Díaz sidelined, but all indications are the hard-throwing right-hander will be back for the stretch run and playoffs after his surgery.