Two years (and broken ribs) later, Blake Treinen returns at key time for Dodgers bullpen

The Dodgers’ Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the Marlins on Monday
Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen returned to action this week with a pair of scoreless innings over two appearances, including Monday’s game against the Marlins. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The comeback was supposed to have happened months ago.

By now, the Dodgers once hoped, Blake Treinen’s return would be old news.

Entering spring training, the shoulder injuries that sidelined Treinen much of the last two years finally seemed fixed. And even at 35 years old, the veteran reliever still flashed electric stuff seemingly capable of late-game dominance.

Then, in one unfortunate, unavoidable stroke, Treinen’s patience was tested anew. After suffering two fractured ribs in a spring training game, his return to the mound was delayed all over again.

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Jack Harris covers the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered the Angels, the Kings and almost everything else the L.A. sports scene had to offer. A Phoenix native, he originally interned at The Times before joining the staff in 2019.

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