How Clayton Kershaw’s rehabilitation setback affects his timetable to return to Dodgers
A week ago, Clayton Kershaw’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery was temporarily paused because of lingering soreness.
While discussing the situation for the first time Tuesday, the 36-year-old Dodgers pitcher smirked when asked what happened.
“Just some old-man shoulder, a little bit,” he deadpanned. “There’s some wear and tear in there. But nothing new.”
The end of that answer was the most important development Kershaw shared with reporters Tuesday, explaining away last week’s soreness as less of a “setback” and more a normal sidetrack in his recovery from shoulder surgery in November.
“I feel like the upward trajectory has been pretty steady up to this point,” said Kershaw, who underwent surgery to repair his shoulder capsule and glenohumeral ligaments. “I just think it’s just like getting your feet underneath you a little bit.
Kershaw had an MRI last week that confirmed no new damage in his shoulder, and also was given some “shots” to help alleviate the soreness he reported to team personnel following his first minor-league rehabilitation start on June 19.
This week, Kershaw resumed playing catch in the outfield of Dodger Stadium. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session.
“He looks really good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I would argue that he looks even better than he did even when he was kind of making his way back a few weeks ago, at this point in time. So I’m really encouraged by it.”
When Kershaw will rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation is less clear.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner initially had been targeting a comeback in late July or August. He is hopeful that timeframe hasn’t been significantly altered by his week off from throwing.
“I think having this little couple day reset should help,” Kershaw said, noting that he feels more comfortable trying to “push through stuff” now that he knows his shoulder is continuing to recover properly.
