Injuries & Moves: Glasnow activated; Rojas to IL; Ahmed signs deal
LATEST NEWS
July 24: Signed SS Nick Ahmed to Major League deal; placed SS Miguel Rojas on the 10-day injured list with right forearm tightness
Rojas, who left Sunday’s game against the Red Sox in the fourth inning, officially landed on the injured list Wednesday with what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said was a right flexor strain. Given the severity of the injury, Rojas will be shut down from throwing for a while and will miss some time. Because of that -- and with Mookie Betts still on the injured list -- the Dodgers decided to sign the veteran Ahmed to a Major League deal.
Ahmed, 34, is no stranger to the National League West, spending most of his career with the D-backs and being a part of the Giants this season. He played 52 games with San Francisco, hitting .232 with one homer, six doubles and 15 RBIs. With the Dodgers, Ahmed will handle the bulk of the shortstop responsibilities until Rojas and/or Betts return.
July 24: Activated RHP Tyler Glasnow from the 15-day injured list; designated RHP Ricky Vanasco for assignment
Glasnow is back after missing a couple of starts with lower back tightness. The Dodgers’ ace made the start against the Giants on Wednesday. To make room on the 40-man roster for Nick Ahmed, the Dodgers designated Vanasco for assignment. Vanasco had a 13.50 ERA in two appearances with the Dodgers this season.
INJURY UPDATES
RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025 (as a pitcher)
Ohtani has been throwing ever since the team came back from Seoul, South Korea, in late March. On May 27, Ohtani said he has progressed to throwing from 60 feet out. He added that those throws have reached 80 mph in his last couple sessions. He is still not expected to see game action this season. (Last updated: May 28)
10-day/15-day injured list
SS Miguel Rojas (right forearm tightness)
Expected return: Sometime in August
Rojas, who left the July 21 game against the Red Sox after experiencing discomfort in his throwing arm, will now be sidelined for a few weeks as further testing diagnosed a right flexor strain for the veteran shortstop. Rojas will be shut down from throwing “for a bit” according to manager Dave Roberts. (Last updated: July 24)
RHP Walker Buehler (right hip inflammation)
Expected return: Early to mid-August
Buehler threw “an aggressive bullpen” at Dodger Stadium on July 23 and is now ready to rejoin Triple-A Oklahoma City for a rehab start on July 26. The right-hander will make two starts in Triple-A, according to manager Dave Roberts. If those go well, Buehler could be back in the Dodgers’ rotation for the stretch run.
Buehler spent the last month working out at Cressey Performance Center in Florida, hoping to improve his mechanics and his overall stuff. (Last updated: July 24)
SS Mookie Betts (left hand fracture)
Expected return: August
Betts started taking ground balls at Dodger Stadium during the week of July 15, a significant step in the right direction for the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player. Betts said his fractured left hand is still not fully healed, and he only has about 40-50% strength in the hand.
“They said everything is on track,” Betts said. “It’s just something you don’t want to rush and then you start making bad habits in your swinging, then it’s good that you came back, but you’re doing more harm than good. I just want to make sure I’m ready to go.” (Last updated: July 19)
RHP Michael Grove (right intercostal strain)
Expected return: Possibly July
Grove missed a month and a half last season with a similar injury, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team viewed this as a "shorter-term" issue. Grove has primarily worked in long relief for L.A. this season and twice served as an opener. (Last updated: June 16)
60-day IL
RHP Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Early to mid-August
Graterol made his second appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 24, striking out one and giving up one hit over a scoreless inning. The right-hander will need at least three or four more rehab outings before returning to the Dodgers, but the important setup man continues to get closer to a return. (Last updated: July 24)
RHP Ryan Brasier (calf strain)
Expected return: Early to mid-August
Brasier threw one simulated inning at Dodger Stadium on July 23 and will now start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 27 or July 28, according to manager Dave Roberts. Brasier will need at least a couple of appearances in the Minors before returning to the Dodgers’ active roster. (Last updated: July 24)
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right triceps tightness)
Expected return: Late in the season
Yamamoto is playing catch out to 200 feet, and he said his right arm is pain-free. The right-hander said his “goal” is to return at some point this season, but there’s no real timetable for his return.
On July 21, manager Dave Roberts said the team's current focus is getting Yamamoto back healthy and prioritizing not just his short-term health, but also the long term. Yamamoto, of course, signed a historic 12-year deal last offseason. Yamamoto is on the 60-day injured list and isn’t eligible to return until Aug. 15, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be ready to return by that date. (Last updated: July 21)
LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: July 25
Kershaw built up to four innings in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 19, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out a pair. Previously, he pitched three hitless innings with five strikeouts on July 13, and then threw 12 pitches in the bullpen.
Kershaw is scheduled to be activated to make his season debut on July 25 against the Giants. (Last updated: July 20)
RHP Dustin May (right flexor tendon surgery; esophagus)
Expected return: 2025
May underwent surgery to repair his esophagus and stomach on July 10 after reporting pain in those areas after dinner that day.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on July 14 that he “was shocked” by the news, noting May was in Arizona.
“Soreness of the throat and the stomach, and goes to the ER and gets surgery.” said Roberts. “He gets surgery, and he’s done for the year. Obviously, him coming back, if everything was great, was still a longer shot. But how his season ended is very unfortunate. I’m just glad he’s OK.”
May underwent right elbow surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles to repair his flexor tendon July 18, 2023. It was his second major elbow surgery in the past three seasons, and the Dodgers placed him on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2024 season. Read more >> (Last updated: July 14)
3B Max Muncy (right oblique strain)
Expected return: August at the earliest
Muncy’s oblique injury hasn’t progressed nearly as quickly as the Dodgers had hoped. The third baseman had been taking swings off a tee but has since stopped, and he will need a lengthy rehab assignment when he does resume baseball activities. Muncy got additional scans on his oblique, manager Dave Roberts shared on July 6, but there were no new developments. Still, Muncy will be sidelined for at least another month. (Last updated: July 6)
RHP Connor Brogdon (right plantar fasciitis)
Expected return: TBD
Brogdon, who was acquired from the Phillies in April, went on the injured list for the first time this season. The right-hander gave up a pair of solo home runs in his one appearance with the Dodgers. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 19. (Last updated: May 19)
RHP Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Sheehan suffered an injury in his first bullpen session of the spring and never got into Cactus League action. The right-hander had started throwing to hitters for the first time, but on May 16 the Dodgers announced that he had undergone successful surgery on his right elbow that would end his 2024 season. (Last updated: May 16)
RHP Tony Gonsolin (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery on Sept. 1, performed by team doctor Neal ElAttrache. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 19 with what was diagnosed as right forearm inflammation. Gonsolin also was placed on the IL late in the 2022 season with a right forearm strain. He started the '23 campaign on the IL with a left ankle sprain and was 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts.
Gonsolin had been dealing with arm soreness for an extended period before he went on the IL. The Dodgers placed Gonsolin on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 9. (Last updated: Feb. 9)