Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Ramping up bullpen sessions
Rotowire
Kopech (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled for another Monday before potentially being cleared to face live batters, Benjamin Royer of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The right-hander's throwing program stalled in late March due to a shoulder impingement after he came into camp with some forearm inflammation, but he's now nearing the latter stages of his rehab program. Kopech will likely require a few rehab appearances in the minors before rejoining the Dodgers, so he's likely still at least a couple weeks away from being reinstated.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Tosses bullpen Tuesday
Rotowire
Kopech (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.
The bullpen was Kopech's second since he had his throwing program stalled in late March. The veteran reliever has recently stated that he "feels good" as he ramps up toward a return from the right shoulder injury that has kept him from seeing any game action so far this season. Kopech will presumably need a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to be activated off the IL, and when he eventually rejoins the Dodgers' big-league bullpen, he could be eased back into a high-leverage role considering the amount of time he has missed.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Ramping up throwing program
Rotowire
Kopech (shoulder) said Thursday that he feels food and is ramping back up his throwing program, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The forearm issue Kopech came into camp with felt good early on in spring training, but he developed a shoulder problem because he ramped up his throwing too quickly, which sent him to the injured list. He also was delayed at one point due to a stomach bug. Kopech appears to be getting back on track now, but there's no timetable for his return.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Has throwing program stalled
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech (shoulder) is "sort of in a holding pattern" with his throwing, per MLB.com.
Kopech is dealing with a right shoulder impingement and will open the campaign on the injured list. He had been throwing bullpen sessions as of early March, but given Roberts' comments, it's unclear what the righty reliever's throwing program looks like at the moment. Kopech notched six regular-season saves for Los Angeles after being acquired from the White Sox in late July last year, but he's been slated for a setup role when healthy this season with newcomer Tanner Scott expected to work as the Dodgers' primary closer.
Kopech (forearm) was moved to the 15-day injured list Monday.
Kopech has been dealing with right forearm inflammation since the offseason and it'll force him to begin the 2025 season on the injured list. He's progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, but the team has yet to provide an update on when he'll advance to facing live hitters.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Throwing bullpen session
Rotowire
Kopech (forearm) is throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The right-hander has had a delayed start to spring training due to forearm inflammation but is ramping up his throwing program. Kopech is in danger of being unavailable for the season-opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, with the Dodgers' domestic opener March 27 being a more realistic return target.
Kopech (forearm) threw off a mound Saturday to a standing catcher, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
While it wasn't a full-fledged bullpen session, Saturday marked the first time Kopech had done any sort of mound work since the start of spring training. The 28-year-old righty has been behind schedule since the start of camp due to inflammation in his right forearm, and there's no guarantee he'll be ready to go when the Dodgers begin their domestic schedule March 27.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his throwing program and admitted that the right-hander could begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kopech experienced right forearm inflammation over the winter, and though Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes previously said in January that the 28-year-old wasn't on track to miss time to begin the season, the organization's stance on the matter has seemingly changed as spring training has gotten underway. On a positive note, Kopech hasn't been shut down from throwing, but it's unclear when he might be cleared to face hitters and eventually make his Cactus League debut. After being acquired from the White Sox in July, Kopech pitched to a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB while going 6-for-6 in save chances over 24 innings for the Dodgers to close out the regular season, then struck out 10 batters while allowing three runs over nine postseason innings. Despite his dominant showing during his time with the Dodgers last season, Kopech's uncertain health in addition to the team's deep stable of capable high-leverage relievers renders him primarily an NL-only or deep mixed-league consideration in 2025 fantasy drafts.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Throwing, 'feeling pretty good'
Rotowire
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday on the Baseball Isn't Boring Podcast that Kopech (forearm) is going through his normal offseason throwing program and "feeling pretty good."
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier this month that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation that he pitched through during the postseason. However, Gomes indicated that the reliever is in the same boat as the team's other pitchers in that he'll be monitored this spring; however, at this juncture, a late start to the season is not anticipated. Assuming he's healthy, Kopech will be used in high-leverage situations by the Dodgers.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Concern about forearm overblown
Rotowire
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed Kopech's right forearm injury Wednesday and said, "I don't think there's anything of concern at this point," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
A report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Monday indicated that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation he began experiencing during the playoffs. While Gomes conceded that Kopech was "grinding" through the postseason, the GM doesn't seem to believe it will be a long-term issue. Whether Kopech will indeed get a late start to the 2025 season is not clear. When healthy, Kopech will be part of the late-inning mix in the Dodgers' bullpen.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Dealing with forearm inflammation
Rotowire
Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Kopech battled a forearm issue during the playoffs, although it never got to the point where he was unavailable to pitch. There's no indication the injury has gotten worse since then, with Nightengale noting that Kopech does not have any structural damage. However, the Dodgers are opting to take things slowly with the hard-throwing reliever. Once healthy, Kopech figures to be in the mix for saves, along with Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and perhaps others.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Could miss first month of season
Rotowire
Kopech (undisclosed) is expected to possibly miss the first month of the season, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic note that Kopech dealt with a forearm issue throughout the postseason, "but it was not deemed to be anything he couldn't pitch through." It's not clear whether it's the forearm problem or something else that might force the month-long absence. More information on Kopech's situation should come to light soon.
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