Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without Michael Kopech for all of the 2025 season thus far after he became a key piece of their bullpen late last year.
Kopech began dealing with right forearm inflammation during the 2024 postseason, and it carried into the offseason. Despite that, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed the injury during the offseason and said there was no concern.
But Kopech reported to Spring Training behind in his throwing program and then began the year on the 15-day injured list with what the Dodgers called a right shoulder impingement. The right-hander has been at Camelback Ranch for most the season, but made some appearances in L.A. to throw in front of Dodgers pitching coaches and trainers.
After missing more than a month of games, Kopech is now scheduled to begin his rehab assignment, starting with an outing for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, via David Vassegh of Dodger Talk on AM570:
Michael Kopech is pitching his first rehab game today for Triple-A OKC. Kopech is the Comets opener. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 8, 2025
Kopech was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 1, but he is eligible to be activated in the middle of May. However, he is likely going to be on a lengthy rehab assignment as he has to build back up, which could take around one month.
Pitchers are eligible to stay on a rehab assignment for a maximum of 30 days, so he will likely use most of that time.
Kopech has been facing hitters in Arizona, throwing live batting practice on the fields in Glendale, Arizona. Starting a rehab assignment was the next step after that if things kept progressing well.
With his rehab assignment underway, the Dodgers will care more about how he feels bouncing back from outings and how his stuff looks than any of the results. It’s also likely he’ll appear in back-t0-back games and possibly do an up-down during a game before he returns.
Michael Kopech 2024 stats with Dodgers
During the regular season, Kopech went 4-0 with six saves, a 1.13 ERA, 2.54 FIP and 0.79 WHIP across 24 appearances for the Dodgers. He followed that by going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts over nine innings pitched in 10 games (one start) during the playoffs.
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