Dodgers' Kershaw Faces Setback after Shoulder Surgery
Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw has encountered an unexpected bump in his road to recovery following shoulder surgery. The ace, who underwent surgery in November to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder, is facing lingering soreness just as he was ramping up his rehabilitation efforts.
Kershaw had already made one rehab start and was poised for another on Tuesday. Unfortunately, he has been shut down due to this persistent soreness. As a result, he won’t be throwing for at least a week before attempting to ramp back up. While an MRI revealed no new incidents, the pain has been disruptive enough to necessitate this precautionary pause.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on the situation, emphasizing that setbacks can be an expected part of the rehabilitation process. "This is part of the process as far as anyone that goes through rehab, that goes through a surgery, and is on his way back," Roberts said. "It's not surprising. It's not perfect, but it's not surprising in the fact that there is a little bit of a regression in the throwing process."
In his first rehab outing, Kershaw pitched three innings and threw 36 pitches. To get the green light for a return to the big-league roster, Kershaw needs to demonstrate his ability to finish at least five innings and throw around 75 pitches. Thus, even after overcoming the current soreness, he has some distance to cover before rejoining his teammates on the mound.
Looking toward a potential return in August, Kershaw's progress will be closely monitored. His comeback would be a welcome relief for the Dodgers' pitching rotation, which has been plagued by injuries throughout the season. Walker Buehler started the season on the injured list, and Bobby Miller has also had a lengthy stint there. Kershaw, along with fellow pitchers Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, have spent the entirety of the year sidelined by their ailments. Recently, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also added to this unfortunate roster of injured pitchers.
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers have managed to maintain a resilient front. As of Monday, they hold a 48-31 record and have secured an impressive 8.5-game lead in the NL West. This dominance in the standings reflects the depth and adaptability of the team, but the absence of veteran pitchers like Kershaw remains a significant hurdle.
As Kershaw and his team work through this latest setback, the focus will be on ensuring he returns to full health without compromising his long-term career prospects. Kershaw's storied tenure with the Dodgers has made him a linchpin of the roster, and his return could provide a morale boost as the team pushes deeper into the season.
The road to recovery from surgery is seldom a straight path, and Kershaw's experience underscores the unpredictable nature of athletic rehabilitation. Dodgers fans and the broader baseball community will be watching closely, rooting for a successful and swift return for one of the sport's most talented pitchers.