Dodgers News: Blake Treinen Gets One Step Closer to Unlikely Return

The Dodgers right-hander is ready to take some steps toward his return.

On Monday, injured Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen is ready to test his surgically repaired shoulder off the mound. 

#Dodgers Blake Treinen has been cleared to start a throwing program. Will play catch on Monday. First time since shoulder surgery in November

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 24, 2023

Treinen has become a forgotten man at times after missing most of last season with shoulder issues. He made it back late in the season and made the postseason roster when he probably shouldn't have. Then he underwent the knife in November just months after signing an extension with LA.

The surgery repaired the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Labrum surgery alone comes with a nine to 12 month recovery period, leaving Treinen's status for 2023 very much up in the air.

For what it's worth, the veteran reliever said at the start of spring training that he felt ahead of schedule and that his return this season was "a very real possibility."

"We’re certainly ahead of schedule from where I think they were kind of hoping I would be."

Treinen will remain in Arizona as the rest of the team heads back to Los Angeles for the annual freeway series against the Angels. He'll open the season on the 60-day injured list and in an absolute best case scenario could possibly return sometime in September.

In three seasons with the Dodgers, the former All-Star has posted a 10-9 record with a 2.45 ERA and 8 saves over 103 games.