Tyler Glasnow is making notable progress toward returning to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers after being sidelined by injury since late April. He participated in his first bullpen session on Friday at Dodger Stadium, an important milestone in his recovery process as he works to overcome his injury and rejoin the Dodgers’ pitching rotation this season.
Glasnow, 31, has been out of action since April 27 and is currently one of several Dodgers pitchers on the injured list, including Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Emmet Sheehan. Among this group, Glasnow is widely regarded as the most advanced in his rehabilitation and is expected to be the earliest to return to Major League action.
Beginning his throwing program roughly two weeks ago, Glasnow consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on May 12 to evaluate his progress. The recent bullpen session marked the first time he threw competitively since being placed on the injured list in April. Although the bullpen work was limited—with Glasnow throwing fewer than 20 pitches—it was an encouraging step forward, with reports indicating that Glasnow felt good physically after the outing and showed promising effort on the mound, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group.
“He said he felt great afterwards,” Roberts said. “Don’t know what that means with velocity. But I do know he was getting after it pretty good.”
—Bill Plunkett, Southern California News Group
The Dodgers remain cautious with Glasnow’s recovery, as they are careful not to rush any pitcher back prematurely, mindful of the potential for setbacks. Glasnow is expected to advance through a series of steps, including additional bullpen sessions, batting practice, and rehab assignments, before rejoining the Dodgers’ starting rotation. This gradual approach is consistent across the Dodgers’ injured pitching staff.
Besides Glasnow, the Dodgers’ injured list also features notable pitchers such as Brusdar Graterol, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates. While many of these players remain weeks away from returning, some positive updates have surfaced regarding their recovery timelines and rehabilitation progress.
Comparison of Glasnow and Blake Snell’s Recovery Status
Both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have begun the early stages of their throwing programs, but Glasnow appears to be ahead in the rehab process. While throwing sessions are just one of several steps required to resume Major League pitching, Glasnow’s recent bullpen session puts him a step closer to active play compared to Snell, who remains in catch-and-throw phases at this time.
For both pitchers, multiple checkpoints lie ahead, including increasing pitch counts in bullpen sessions, facing live batters, and completing minor league rehab stints. Successful navigation through these stages is necessary before they can rejoin the Dodgers’ pitching staff for regular-season appearances.
If Glasnow continues his current trajectory, he might be the first among the Dodgers’ injured starters to return, potentially strengthening the rotation in the coming weeks. Keeping track of his progress will be important for fans and analysts looking to assess the Dodgers’ pitching depth as the season progresses.