Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan Expected to Make Season Debut Wednesday Following Tommy John Recovery
The Los Angeles Dodgers are welcoming back one of their young starters to their rotation. 25-year-old starter Emmet Sheehan is expected to return to the rotation this Wednesday, and will start against the San Diego Padres.
Sheehan had to undergo Tommy John Surgery after recording 11 starts in 2023. He struck out 64 batters in 60.1 innings pitched that season, in his first taste of MLB action. He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2021 and has excelled at each level of the minor leagues.
He has made four rehab starts this season over 11.1 innings and seems to be ready for big league action. The report of Sheehan returning to the Dodgers rotation comes from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Dodgers Rotation Outlook
As the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to await the return of other frontline starters like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, good news is starting to trickle in regarding their starting pitching. Snell may make his return from the Injured List this week, and it’ll be interesting to see how well Sheehan performs after a nearly 13-month recovery from an elbow injury.
How Much of a Risk Is This Move?
Writer Nick Deeds provided some insight on the risk that this move may create, and the reality of Sheehan as a starter:
“While Sheehan seems a bit safer to give the ball to than the club’s other depth options, that shouldn’t be taken to mean this is a riskless move. After all, Sheehan has a career 5.23 ERA out of the rotation in the majors and has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He looked better than that in his most recent outings, however, with a 3.68 ERA and 4.35 FIP across 22 frames in September. Sheehan seemed likely to be firmly in the Dodgers’ rotation mix for last year despite his uneven performance, but he went under the knife almost exactly 13 months ago to the day and hasn’t pitched at the big league level since.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers may still want to consider moving relief pitcher Ben Casparius to the rotation, especially if Sheehan struggles out of the gate. It is well known that returning from Tommy John is extremely difficult, but to also do it as a young 25-year-old may cause some struggles. The Dodgers are in the midst of a four-game set with the San Diego Padres, and returning two-way star Shohei Ohtani to the mound earlier this week is also certainly a welcome sign.
Dodgers Pitching Staff Getting Healthier
After a brutal month of May with multiple unfortunate injury updates to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers, things are starting to straighten out. The hype around Sheehan is due to his high prospect status, ability to throw strikes, and lively fastball. It also wouldn’t be surprising if, when Snell and Glasnow return, Sheehan is either moved into a bullpen role or sent down to the minor leagues, as the Dodgers’ rotation may get a bit crowded. However, for now, it will be interesting to see what he can bring to this Dodgers roster.
