Tanner Scott begins his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, bolstering the Dodgers' bullpen recovery plan.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are moving toward restoring strength in their bullpen as Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates commence rehab assignments this week. After recent struggles with their relief pitching, the team hopes these returns, alongside Michael Kopech’s progress, will help stabilize their pitching staff.
Both Scott and Yates have shown progress, with Yates closest to being activated from the injured list, followed by Scott. Kopech remains slightly behind in recovery, but the organization expects all three to be back within weeks. Starting Tuesday, Scott and Yates will begin their rehab assignments with the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers, an important step toward their full return to the major league roster.
Kirby Yates Shows Encouraging Signs Following Rehab Session
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Yates’s performance as he faced hitters in bullpen sessions, highlighting the quality of his fastball and split-finger pitches. Roberts commented on Yates’s readiness, noting the effectiveness of his pitches during the session.
“So I thought today was a productive day. Early next week, probably Tuesday, we’ll get him on a rehab assignment. So that’s exciting for him.”
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Yates expressed optimism about his recovery, emphasizing that although his health feels solid, he still needs to regain his pitching rhythm and feel on the mound. He remains confident the rehab period will allow him to restore his form without unnecessary delay.
“I think health feels pretty good,”
Yates said.
Image of: Tanner Scott
“There’s a baseball aspect to this, too. I don’t think I was doing that great before I went on the IL, so there’s some things I’ve got to get back to doing; feels and all of that stuff on the mound.”
“I have a little bit of time to do that and I love where it’s going right now, so I think overall we’re in a good spot.”
—Kirby Yates, Relief Pitcher
The decision to have Yates begin his assignment at Triple-AOklahoma City, instead of the closer Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, was deliberate. Yates acknowledged the challenge of pitching at Triple-A but considers it a necessary step for his full recovery.
“Don’t know in the middle of a season, after you’ve pitched in some big league games, what’s the difference between A-ball and Triple-A,”
Yates reflected.
“Obviously the hitters are a lot better, but as far as trying to accomplish what you want to, I don’t really know. I’ve never done it before so I can’t really tell you.”
Tanner Scott Progresses Confidently Toward Return
Tanner Scott took his live batting practice session on Friday and reported feeling positive about his condition. What was originally scheduled for the following week was moved up due to his fast progress, signaling readiness to continue advancing through rehab.
“Good,”
Scott said.
“Everything felt good, ball is coming out good. Ready to see what’s next.”
Scott indicated he was prepared even earlier but deferred to the team’s timing for the next step. His mindset is focused on following the guidelines while regaining his form.
“I feel like I was ready to do it a few days ago, but it’s just whatever the team says,”
Scott explained.
“Just going to follow that.”
Although Scott admitted to initial anxiety upon being placed on the injured list, he trusts the rehabilitation process and remains eager to return to pitching in the Dodgers bullpen soon.
“I felt anxious right when I got put on it, but you’ve got to trust the process,”
he stated.
Rehab Assignments Offer Renewed Bullpen Depth for Dodgers
As Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates begin their rehab assignments, the Dodgers are optimistic about adding critical pitching depth during a challenging stretch of the season. Their returns should provide the bullpen with increased consistency and options. Manager Dave Roberts’s confidence in their progress reflects the team’s broader strategy to bolster the pitching staff swiftly.
Their success on the mound after these assignments will significantly influence the Dodgers’ ability to maintain competitiveness in the coming weeks. With solid performances from both Yates and Scott, the bullpen could regain the resilience needed to support the team’s postseason aspirations.
