Clayton Kershaw is navigating a first in his career as he works to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation after undergoing left shoulder surgery last November.
Kershaw needed the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder repaired, a procedure that was projected to keep him out until after the All-Star break. The veteran starter has steadily been progressing with a throwing program over recent weeks and on Saturday advanced to facing batters for the first time.
“I feel alright,” Kershaw said after the simulated game. “So shoulder feels healthy and now it’s just a matter of building your pitches back up and getting ready to go.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also was pleased with the throwing session that he described as “good” and noted Kershaw’s fastball velocity was at 88 mph.
“I don’t remember a curveball, but I think it was fastball, slider, and we got out of it what we hoped for. He came out of a feeling good, feeling strong, and he had no tentativeness,” Roberts added. “So that was a real positive today.
“I was looking for a clean throw, seeing how the ball was coming out. I’ve seen some bullpens, I saw it today, and I didn’t see him guarding anything. He felt free and easy. So for me, my eyes told me it was really, really positive.”
Kershaw faced Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor and Dodgers prospect Kendall George, who took time away from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga to be at Dodger Stadium.
Next step for Clayton Kershaw
Next for Kershaw is a second simulated game that is expected to take place with the Quakes while the Dodgers are on their six-game road trip that begins Tuesday.
“Right now, we’re way ahead of schedule, so I think that’s really encouraging,” Roberts said. “I think just every event that happens, just continue to move forward and build on the positives.”
Despite that optimism, Roberts also mentioned that Kershaw essentially is at the point where a pitcher is when Spring Training begins.
“It’s still going to be like six weeks is something where it’s probably fair,” Roberts said. “If you look at the progression of a pitcher doing his first day in Spring Training, the second day of pitchers and catchers essentially, doing a one-inning situation, then you’re talking about six weeks.
“But obviously, with Clayton, we’re going to kind of read and react. But I think there’s still going to be a consistent process.”
Kershaw has continuously declined to set any sort of timetable and maintained that stance after facing batters for the first time.
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