Will Yoshinobu Yamamoto return for Dodgers in 2024?

Of all the players on the IL for the Dodgers, the most consequential might be rookie pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He went on the IL in mid-June with a strained rotator cuff and was transferred to the 60-day IL in July, but Yamamoto on Sunday had good news while speaking with reporters.

Yamamoto, while he doesn't have a timeline to return, said he's hopeful to return this season and that he doesn't have any pain or discomfort in his injured throwing arm.

Whether he does return remains to be seen.

The earliest he could come back based on his IL stint is Aug. 16. While that remains a possibility, it seems increasingly unlikely since the club still doesn't have a definitive timetable on when he will/could return.

Manager Dave Roberts said Yamamoto is playing catch at distances of 200 feet, but he still hasn't thrown any bullpens. That'll be the next key step. Yamamoto will need to begin a throwing program that includes work from the mound. From there he'll have to get into rehab starts, and then there'll be consideration on getting him back to the Majors.

It's a tough spot for the Dodgers. They don't want to rush the rookie back considering what he'll mean for their pitching rotation long-term. However, he's been dominant as a rookie and having him in the rotation makes Los Angeles considerably better.

If they can get him back sometime in late August or early September when he can get a few starts in before the playoffs, that would be a pretty significant win. Even just getting him back for the postseason would be helpful. For now though the positive update will have to suffice until the club has another update after he begins the next steps of his throwing program. At that point we should be able to get a more definitive timeline.