It was Walker Buehler he was talking about: the Dodgers’ 23-year-old sophomore season ace and second in command to his teammate and perhaps mentor Clayton Kershaw.
Buehler has long had high expectations. A first-round pick back in 2015, his electric fastball and powerful yet crafty curveball have always projected to land him at the top of an MLB rotation. That until he had his post-draft physical.
They checked his elbow. The results were disheartening.
Buehler would need Tommy John Surgery. Micro-tears in his Ulnar Collateral Ligament were enough for the Dodgers to pump the breaks on their newest prospect as they opted to put him under the knife.