Walker Buehler Says Late Start to Season Was His Idea, Not Dodgers’
Fans are waiting anxiously for Buehler to return.
One of the more anticipated events of the Dodgers’ 2024 season will be the return of ace Walker Buehler. The 29-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but is expected to pitch at some point this year.
Buehler almost made his return at the end of last season, but it was decided that he wasn’t where he needed to be. One start into his rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Buehler shut down his comeback attempt with the idea that he could continue to rehab all offseason and spring training.
Since camp opened, however, Buehler has been slow-playing his return. It was announced that Buehler would have a later start to the season, much to the disappointment of the fanbase.
Buehler revealed the decision to delay his start to the new year was his own, not the team’s.”The way we have it structured in our heads was kind of what I wanted to do,” Buehler said. “I want to be ready at the end of the year. If that means I can’t be ready at the beginning, then that’s kind of the option or the choice we have to make. Everything that’s been written about me is that it’s not going well, and I don’t think that’s true. There’s just boxes I’ve got to check, and I feel good about it.”
