This spring was not a traditional one for Dodgers RHP Yency Almonte. Quite than getting a full spring to ramp up and put together for the season, he spent quite a lot of it on the sidelines. Almonte had a slower ramp up than his friends, as he was recovering from a lingering elbow challenge that price him a ton of time final season. So, the Dodgers wished to be further cautious with Almonte, as they slowly ramped him up for the 2023 season.
That gradual ramp up wasn’t simple for Almonte, as he felt like he wanted to play catch up when he was lastly allowed to begin throwing. He spoke to Kirsten Watson of SNLA concerning the tough spring, however how he continued to belief the Dodgers’ plan.
“It was a bizarre one,” Almonte stated. “It was a spring the place quite a lot of adversity of me telling myself that I do know I might be prepared, however being held again and never having the ability to throw when the blokes have been throwing. I believe I began throwing when the blokes already had three to 4 innings and I used to be like, ‘I’m late. I have to catch up and prepare.’ However, simply give me the method and telling me what I have to do and seeing the way in which I pitched (not too long ago) and feeling nice, I believe that’s crucial factor. I’m beginning to belief that crucial is being wholesome and simply being on the market for the crew.”
Almonte had a breakout yr for the Dodgers in 2022, sporting a minuscule 1.02 ERA in 33 appearances. Nevertheless, the Dodgers would have beloved to see him making near double that quantity of appearances, which is why they’re being further cautious with the elbow points this spring.
Almonte goes to be a key piece of the Dodgers bullpen this season. He’s positive to get his alternatives to shut, and will likely be utilized in some high-leverage conditions.
Additionally, proper now, the Dodgers bullpen is fairly skinny, a minimum of till Daniel Hudson and Alex Reyes can return. So, the Dodgers will want all eight guys on the roster to play properly and stay wholesome early within the yr, and that begins with Almonte.
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