THE APEX TIMES
Edwin Díaz throws first live batting practice, staying on track for Dodgers return after All-Star break
The Dodgers closer, sidelined since late April by loose bodies in his elbow, began live batting practice and moved into the next phase of his rehab timeline.
Edwin Díaz took an important step in his recovery from elbow surgery on Sunday, throwing his first live batting practice since the procedure as he continues working toward a return to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the All-Star break. For a bullpen that has leaned on late-inning outs all season, any movement toward a target return date matters as the summer stretches into the stretch run.
Díaz has been sidelined since late April with an issue identified as loose bodies in his elbow. According to reporting from AP News, his live batting practice took place at Dodger Stadium before Los Angeles hosted the San Diego Padres, and the right-hander was scheduled to proceed with a rehab assignment after the session as part of his return plan.
The closer’s timeline has been monitored closely because of the expectations attached to his recent contract. The Dodgers signed Díaz as a free agent to a three-year, $69 million deal, and his ability to regain his usual form is a central question for a team managing relief-inning leverage during a postseason push.
In his time with the Dodgers so far, Díaz has had a difficult start relative to his track record. AP reported that he has made seven appearances for Los Angeles and that, early in his first season with the team, he posted a 10.50 ERA across six innings with noticeably lower velocity. After the live batting practice, Díaz indicated he felt “way better than early in the season,” a detail that will be watched for both how he performs and what his velocity looks like once he gets back into real game action.
The live batting practice also offered a glimpse of who he could face as his return progresses. AP noted that one of the batters who faced Díaz was Kiké Hernández, who was making his first live at-bats since going on the injured list in late May with a left oblique strain. That crossover highlights how teams often use controlled bullpen sessions not only to evaluate pitchers, but also to keep positional players ramped up through their own rehab and conditioning needs.
Beyond the day-to-day rehab steps, the bigger baseball question is what Díaz’s return changes for the Dodgers’ late-inning pattern. In bullpen management, closers are not simply another arm, they also affect how managers allocate responsibilities among setup pitchers, left-right matchups, and the number of pitches required to protect leads. If Díaz is able to move from live batting practice into game-ready work on schedule, Los Angeles could stabilize the back end of its bullpen as it heads into the final third of the season.
Díaz will still need to prove durability and effectiveness once he transitions from live looks to actual hitters in higher-leverage innings. The next checkpoint is his rehab assignment and how quickly his stuff translates from controlled sessions to the stress of consecutive batters, high-leverage counts, and full-game usage patterns. For Dodgers fans, the live batting practice is a meaningful sign of progress, but the on-field return still has to be earned.
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Why It Matters
- A healthy, effective Díaz gives the Dodgers a clearer late-inning plan and reduces the need to stretch other bullpen arms during tight, late-game situations.
- Because his early-season performance was limited by velocity, the upcoming rehab and subsequent game outings will be a test of whether his command and power return together.
- Any confirmed return window after the All-Star break affects how Los Angeles structures leverage roles among its setup group and left-right matchups.
- Díaz’s progress also influences how much margin the Dodgers can afford in the standings during the final stretch of the regular season.
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Key Facts
- Edwin Díaz threw his first live batting practice since elbow surgery as he works back from a late-April elbow issue described as loose bodies.
- AP reported that Díaz remains on track to return to the Dodgers after the All-Star break and will go on a rehab assignment next.
- Díaz has been sidelined since late April and has made seven appearances for Los Angeles.
- AP reported that Díaz struggled early with Los Angeles, posting a 10.50 ERA over six innings and lower velocity before the injury.
- The Dodgers signed Díaz as a free agent to a three-year, $69 million deal.
- AP reported that Kiké Hernández faced Díaz in the live batting practice.