BOSTON — It had been 9 months since Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo, stretched his arms on the Yankee Stadium mound, and was dogpiled after recording the ultimate outs of final 12 months’s World Collection.
However on Friday afternoon, forward of Buehler’s first reunion with the Dodgers since departing for the Boston Purple Sox within the offseason, the reminiscence remained vividly recent — for him, his former teammates and coaches, and even a touring contingent of Dodgers followers on the town for this weekend’s collection at Fenway Park.
As Buehler chatted with members of his previous group hours earlier than Friday’s collection opener, Dodger followers taking a pregame tour of the stadium noticed him on the diamond. Inside moments, an in any other case empty ballpark was echoing with cheers and applause, the followers shouting Buehler’s title as he acknowledged them with a wave of his hand.
“That was really cool,” Buehler mentioned later, the second reminding him of a dialog he had with Dodgers broadcaster Orel Hershiser (a World Collection hero of a unique era who grew to become a mentor of Buehler’s throughout his time with the workforce).
“Talking to Orel about some of that stuff that he’s gone through and the way people react to him, I think it’s obviously two different situations,” he added. “But for the fans walking around to yell at me, I kind of imagine in L.A. it’ll be like that for a while, I hope.”
Certainly, if there was any doubt about how Buehler’s Dodgers tenure was destined to be remembered, his position in final 12 months’s World Collection enshrined it in legendary standing.
No, the right-hander didn’t fairly attain the Cy Younger-winning expectations many had when he first got here up as a extremely touted prospect with a giant fastball and fiery mound presence. For as dominant as he was from 2018-2021, when he went 39-13 with a 2.82 earned-run common and two All-Star choices, the top of his seven-year stint was derailed by a 2022 Tommy John surgical procedure (the second of his profession) and a disappointing regular-season efficiency upon his return in 2024 (when he was 1-6 within the common season with a 5.38 ERA).
Buehler’s finest Dodger moments, although, all the time got here within the postseason: From his division-clinching gem in Sport 163 as a rookie in 2018, to his 1.80 ERA in 5 begins throughout the Dodgers’ 2020 World Collection run, to when he took the ball on quick relaxation twice in a failed title protection in 2021, to his 10 consecutive scoreless innings within the remaining two rounds of final 12 months’s postseason most of all; an sudden star flip following his post-Tommy John struggles all through the summer season.
Boston Purple Sox pitcher Walker Buehler delivers in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
(Matt Slocum / Related Press)
“That moment means a lot to all of us, that we were a part of it with the city and the fans that came out every day for us there,” he mentioned, whereas speaking to reporters within the Purple Sox’s house dugout. “I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere — except for here.”
Whereas Buehler expressed curiosity in remaining with the Dodgers forward of his free company final winter, his eventual departure grew to become clear within the first week of the offseason.
The workforce didn’t prolong him a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying provide — which ended up being the identical quantity he signed for with the Purple Sox. The Dodgers as a substitute went after Blake Snell with a $182-million contract, and gained the January sweepstakes for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki.
“It was an interesting situation. I think there’s obviously two sides to that situation,” Buehler mentioned when reflecting again on his free company. “We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of is what it is.”
In hindsight, it was an end result neither facet appeared to be remorse.
In Buehler’s absence, the Dodgers have managed to work round first-half accidents to a number of key starters, and are on monitor to have a possible postseason rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Snell (who may return from a shoulder harm after one final minor-league rehab begin with triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis on Saturday).
In the meantime, Buehler mentioned he has loved taking part in for the Purple Sox, despite the fact that he has regressed with a woeful 5.72 ERA (sixth-worst within the majors amongst 107 pitchers with at the least 80 innings).
“It’s been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me,” he mentioned. “But my family and me, we’re loving it here and have felt really very welcomed here, as well, just like we were in LA.”
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler, far, left celebrates with teammates after recording the ultimate out of the Dodgers’ World Collection victory over the New York Yankees on Oct. 30.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
Buehler has been higher these days, giving up simply three earned runs in his final 18 innings to assist the Purple Sox preserve the ultimate wild-card spot within the American League.
His subsequent begin, fittingly, will are available Sunday’s series-finale in opposition to the Dodgers.
“It’ll be interesting,” Buehler mentioned with fun. “Obviously, I was one of the last of the wave coming up there. So I’ve kind of got little bits and pieces of it playing against Joc [Pederson] and [Cody Bellinger] and Corey [Seager]. So it’ll be nine of those for me, I guess.”
Buehler wished he may have squared off in opposition to Clayton Kershaw; one thing he mentioned he and the longer term Corridor of Fame left-hander (who will as a substitute pitch Saturday’s sport) joked about whereas assembly up on Thursday’s off day.
Nonetheless, Buehler added, “I think you just try to keep it as normal as you can. Obviously it’ll be a little awkward or funny or whatever. But I don’t know. At the end of the day, we’re all playing a sport for a paycheck. The goal is go and to get one over on them. I don’t think the preparation against them is really different.”
Friday, alternatively, was a day for nostalgia, with Buehler receiving his World Collection ring from Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts and a lot of the remaining gamers from final 12 months’s workforce throughout pregame batting apply.
“I was very fortunate to be drafted and developed and get to spend so much time there,” Buehler mentioned. “Should credit a lot of good success that I’ve had to them, and how they handled and treated me. Nothing but good things to say there.”
As for if his ring — a diamond-studded reminder of what, for now at the least, stays the lasting picture of his Dodgers profession — gave him any closure, Buehler smirked.
“I think you already have it,” he mentioned. “But I think everyone kind of knows I’m on a one-year contract, so you never know what’s going to happen down the road.”
Betts absent for Friday
The Dodgers have been with out shortstop Mookie Betts, who was house in Nashville together with his household attending to a private matter. Roberts mentioned Betts was anticipated to rejoin the membership on Saturday, however was uncertain if he’d be again within the beginning lineup for that day’s sport.
