Clayton Kershaw underwent two surgical procedures final November, addressing each his left knee (a torn left meniscus) and his left large toe (a ruptured plantar plate). It was recognized that Kershaw would start the season on the 60-day injured checklist and thus be sidelined till late Could, however the future Corridor-of-Famer shared some updates on his restoration course of with Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register and different reporters yesterday.
At this time will mark the primary time since final season that Kershaw has confronted hitters, as he’ll participate in a reside batting follow session previous to the Dodgers’ sport with the Tigers. That is the most recent and most notable step in a slower ramp-up course of that Kershaw mentioned was like “going by way of spring coaching proper now, principally.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s excellent, however undoubtedly getting there,” Kershaw mentioned. “I feel general it’s good progress. I’m not going to be comfortable till I’m out on the mound. However I feel all people – docs and coaching workers – would say I’m doing what I must be doing.”
Regardless of this optimistic view, there isn’t but a set timeline in place for Kershaw’s return to the L.A. rotation, other than the free goal date of the primary day he’s eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL. Kershaw mentioned the plan is to construct to sport motion, with an eye fixed in direction of being in at the very least a minor league rehab task by the point late Could rolls round.
The restoration from toe surgical procedure is the bigger difficulty than the knee surgical procedure, as Kershaw famous that his toe downside relates particularly to his potential to push off the rubber. “There’s been just one or two baseball gamers which have had this surgical procedure” as properly, including to the fluidity within the restoration course of, even when there’s no cause but why a late Could activation wouldn’t be potential.
“It’s simply sort of exhausting to guess when it heals in comparison with if you really feel adequate to push off a mound. Type of the timeline I’ve mentioned earlier than is sort of what we’ve all selected,” Kershaw mentioned.
Kershaw signed a one-year deal value $7.5MM in assured cash (with greater than twice that quantity obtainable in incentives) to return for what can be his 18th season each within the majors and with the Dodgers. He spent final winter additionally recovering from again surgical procedure, and between that rehab course of after which the toe points that surfaced later within the 12 months, Kershaw performed solely a restricted function within the Dodgers’ championship season. The southpaw posted a 4.50 ERA over a career-low 30 innings, and didn’t see any motion within the playoffs.
Los Angeles will ultimately be adopting a six-man rotation as soon as its injured starters get wholesome, although the sheer variety of arms on the roster may make for fairly a logjam if everybody is offered. Past Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani can also be anticipated to make his return to the mound this season, even when Ohtani’s pitching ramp-up is one thing of a thriller at this level, at the same time as he continues to slug away because the Dodgers’ designated hitter. Tony Gonsolin is one other rotation candidate on the mend, and he threw his personal reside BP session on Friday.
Gonsolin had a Tommy John surgical procedure in late August 2023, and he missed all of final season regardless of some faint hopes that he would possibly’ve been in a position to get again to motion on the very finish of September. This seemingly paved the best way for Gonsolin to be totally able to go for this season’s opener, however he was shelved once more on the 15-day IL when he harm his again whereas lifting weights this spring.
“I felt like my physique was feeling nice….After which to have one thing like that non-baseball-related [injury] actually sucked, truthfully,” Gonsolin informed Plunkett. “I don’t actually have another phrases for it. However once more, it’s a minor setback, and I’ll attempt to take this time to construct again up and get into a good higher place.”
