The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Dodgers pitcher Feyereisen returns to big league roster
Right-hander J.P. Feyereisen was back in the Dodgers clubhouse Saturday after being recalled along with lefthander Nick Ramirez, while pitchers Bobby Miller and Connor Brogdon were placed on the injured list before the rain-delayed game against the Padres, a 5-2 Dodgers win where Mookie Betts had three hits and two RBIS, and rookie starter Gavin Stone retired his first 15 batters.
Feyereisen was optioned last month, along with Gus Varland and Landon Knack, to Triple-a Oklahoma City.
“It’s exciting to be with the guys again and get to see L.A. with fans in the stands,” said Feyereisen, whose only other time at Dodger Stadium was during the pandemic in 2020 when fans weren’t allowed.
“It will be great to see fans in the stands and how it really is here,” he added.
After a rough outing in which he allowed three runs and struck out one in one inning during the Seoul Series, the Dodgers sent Feyereisen down to get more work.
While with the Tampa Bay Rays, he had surgery on his right throwing shoulder that was described as “general cleanup of the rotator cuff and labrum.”
After being acquired by the Dodgers, Feyereisen was sidelined for four months and needed a few more months to gain strength and get back on the mound. Feyereisen spent nearly all of the 2023 season rehabbing his shoulder.
“My arm feels great, I just think I hadn’t pitched in a year and half — haven’t pitched since June 3, 2022 — and I think they wanted me to get some work down in OKC,” Feyereisen said. “I can’t be mad about that. I just feel good that I’m still getting good outings and they still want me up here.”
Feyereisen appeared in four games with Oklahoma City, allowing three runs in five innings with five strikeouts.
Buehler OK after taking comebacker
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler was “fine” after being hit by a comebacker on his right hand during his third minor league rehab assignment start on Friday for Low-a Rancho Cucamonga.
While that start was shortened to two innings the good news is that the ball struck his middle knuckle and didn’t cause lasting damage, Roberts said.
“He came out of it fine, and the plan is still to have him pitch Thursday, I just don’t know where yet,” Roberts said Saturday night. “It could be OKC or at Rancho Cucamonga. We’ll go from there.”
Angels' Stephenson suffers a setback
The Angels had high hopes of getting Robert Stephenson back in their bullpen soon, but now that’s on hold.
Stephenson left his first rehab outing after throwing just four pitches on Saturday night. The pitches were 96-98 mph, but all four were out of the strike zone. Stephenson then called for an athletic trainer and he was removed from the game.
“We’re going to get him examined,” manager Ron Washington said on Sunday morning. “I don’t have any more than that.”
The Angels signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33-million deal over the winter. He suffered a shoulder injury before pitching in any spring training games. An MRI exam revealed only inflammation, so Stephenson was progressing well toward a return by the end of April. He faced hitters earlier this week in Anaheim, before being sent to pitch at least two games for Triple-a Salt Lake.
“The way he was throwing the baseball before he went on rehab was electric,” Washington said.
Bulldog mentality
While most managers only visit the mound to make a pitching change, Washington regularly goes to talk to his pitcher when he has an inspirational message for him to get out of a jam.
In the eighth inning on Sunday, the Angels trailed 5-3 and José Cisnero was threatening to let the game get away. He had walked a hitter and given up a single. Washington went to the mound, talked to Cisnero, and reminded him that the game was still within reach, if he could escape this jam.
Cisnero retired the next three, including two strikeouts.
“Some bulldog came out of him,” Washington said. “I certainly hope that we can see that bulldog that came out there for the rest of the year.”