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The Dodgers announced that reliever Will Klein underwent right elbow surgery to remove bone chips and address a bone spur.
The team said the procedure will have him “ready for Spring Training,” which usually starts in February. That puts him on track to return in about four months.
The upcoming lockout is set to push Spring Training back at least a month or two, given the state of talks between the owners and players, but it means Klein can ease into the ramp-up.
Will Klein, right up until the season ended, continued to pitch for the Dodgers, but not on the field. He kept throwing in some capacity, despite going on the injured list in August for right elbow soreness.
In fact, he was officially listed as having loose bodies in his elbow, another term for the bone chips that can enter an elbow.
The righty took a break from throwing after his initial IL placement, which tamped down the inflammation, but he began throwing plyo balls shortly after.
Rather than end his season with elbow surgery, which would take him out for at least two months, if not more, Klein initially opted for rest and treatment.
However, the need for Klein to pitch during the last month of the regular season or the postseason never developed.
With the Dodgers eliminated and out of the postseason mix, the team and player decided to fix the elbow once and for all.
He saw a dip in velocity and effectiveness right before landing on the IL, but after the procedure and lengthy recovery, Klein should come back ready to fight for a spot in the bullpen.
He had a sensational start to the season, with a 2.77 ERA in March and April and a 0.82 ERA in May. However, in June, Klein posted a 4.32 ERA over 8.1 innings, followed by a 7.71 ERA over 9.1 innings in July.
His stuff looked promising overall before injuries bogged him down. Going forward, optimism remains about Klein’s ability to fill a role.
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