Rehab stint in minors is next step for Heaney
Tony Gonsolin, who is tied for the MLB lead with 11wins, is a member of the National League All-Star team.
ST. LOUIS » Andrew Heaney is ready for another rehab assignment.
The Dodgers left-hander threw to hitters Tuesday afternoon, making approximately 30 pitches over two simulated innings. The next step in his recovery from a recurrence of his shoulder discomfort will be to make a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday.
Heaney is expected to go three innings in the rehab start. No decision has been made yet on whether he will make multiple starts this time around, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Heaney has made as many starts in the minor leagues on rehab assignments as he has in the major leagues this season (three). After his first two starts for the Dodgers, he went on the injured list for two months with shoulder inflammation. He made three rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers and throwing five innings against the Cleveland Guardians on June 19 but renewed shoulder discomfort followed that start and Heaney was shut down again.
“For me, my focus has just been the current day — what my plan is for that day, what I need to accomplish to get healthy, stay healthy, be better,” Heaney said Tuesday. “It’s been superfrustrating so I’m just trying to bury myself in working and taking care of what I need to do. The rest will take care of itself. I don’t want to try and steer the situation. I’m at the point now where if I do the work and do the things I need to do the rest will happen.”
Roberts said the Dodgers are “hopeful” and “cautiously optimistic” that Heaney can rejoin their rotation without a recurrence of the shoulder problem. But he floated the possibility that Heaney’s pitch count might need to be capped in order to keep him healthy.
“To err on the side of caution with Andrew, it’s the volume as far as the number of pitches that we’ve got to be mindful of,” Roberts said. “To see him go beyond the 75-pitch mark, I just don’t see it as realistic. I think we’ve got to do whatever we can to keep him healthy because if he’s on our roster and pitching, he can be very helpful.”
Heaney said he has not had any discussions with the Dodgers’ training or coaching staff about limiting his workload for the rest of the season.
“All I can do is prepare myself the best I can,” he said.
All-Star snub
Before the full All-Star rosters were announced over the weekend, Roberts said he felt a good case could be made for seven Dodgers to be named to the National League All-Star team. Only four were — shortstop Trea Turner and outfielder
Mookie Betts (both elected to start), and pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin.
Of the three Dodgers left out — pitcher Julio Urias, first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith — Roberts said Smith’s absence “probably disappointed me the most.”
“I’m still irritated,” Roberts said. “I think they missed it . ... I just don’t think there’s a manager in the National League that would not say he’s one of the top two catchers in the National League.”
Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was named the NL starter at the position. Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud was the only catcher named as a reserve.
Taylor status
Outfielder Chris Taylor has begun taking dry swings (no ball involved) and working out to stay in shape. But he won’t be cleared to do any baseball activities until the fracture in his left foot has had more time to heal. Taylor was injured when he fouled a ball off his foot a week ago.
“As far as real baseball activity, it’s going to be a while. We’ve got to let this thing heal up . ... It’s going to be a while,” Roberts said.
“From what I understand, if he puts too much pressure on it, it could get worse. So there’s a point where you’ve just got to let it heal to then start being a little more active. I think we’re a couple weeks away from that but I’m not sure.”