It was exactly one year ago that right-hander Brandon Beachy showed up for the first time in a Dodgers uniform … well, at least in a Dodgers hat, T-shirt and workout shorts. It was during spring training 2015 and the then 28-year-old Kokomo, Indiana native had just agreed to a one-year – $2.75 million contract with a $3 million club option for 2016 or a $250K buyout. Beachy was exactly 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery – his second Tommy John surgery. And while everyone knew that Beachy was still months away from returning to a major league mound and was assigned a locker on the non-roster invitee-side of the Dodgers Camelback Ranch clubhouse, things would be different one year later.

Beachy’s road to recovery after two Tommy John surgeries was extremely long and often included throwing live batting practice at Dodger Stadium last season. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

When Beachy was finally deemed healthy enough to pitch at the big league level on July 11 and again on July 20, the results were not what he nor the Dodgers had hoped for. In his combined 8.0 innings of work, Beachy posted an 0-1 record with an unattractive 7.88 ERA. It was very apparent that the soft-spoken right-hander was still not completely healed from his second surgery and he finished the 2015 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City posting a 1-1 record with a far more Beachy-like 3.64 ERA in his 10 appearances (nine starts) with the OKC Dodgers. But when the season ended, the Dodgers did not pick up Beachy’s option and sent him off to free agency.

But as the 2015-2016 off-season rolled along, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi elected to steer clear of the top three free agent starters on the market, including their very own Zack Greinke, who opted out of his six-year – $147 million contract with $71 million still on the table. Along the way, they decided to give Beachy another look. They revisited his previous career mark of 14-11 and  3.23 ERA with the Atlanta Brave and decided to give Beachy another shot, signing him to a non-guaranteed one-year – $1.5 million major league contract on January 6. But with the Dodgers still reeling from the loss of Greinke to the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks and with the team well on its way to landing Japanese superstar Kenta Maeda, Beachy was outrighted to Oklahoma City three short weeks later to create a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

Beachy was again invited to major league spring training camp, but this time he would be an active participant vying for a spot not only back onto the Dodgers 40-man roster but with an opportunity to possibly even make the Dodgers Opening Day rotation. He was also given a locker on the major league side of the Dodgers’ clubhouse in between left-hander Alex Wood and right-hander Joe Blanton.

“I’m one hundred percent healthy and feel great … finally,” said the now 29-year-old Beachy, when pitchers and catchers reported last Friday. “I think this is my year, I truly believe that.”

After his first bullpen session two days later, Beachy had reason to be even more optimistic – he was completely pain free, something that he hasn’t experienced in over two years.

“I did everything I was looking to do, I threw all my pitches. I feel good, I’m a regular guy,” Beachy said with a laugh. “I’ve just got to put it all together now. I’m bouncing back and feeling good. It’s nice being able to work on pitching as opposed to thinking about what I’m feeling and stuff like that.”

Beachy was extremely happy with his first bullpen session. “I’m a regular guy,” he kidded.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But now that Beachy is finally healthy, where does he fit into the Dodgers plans with so many young arms in camp fighting for the same spot that he is?

“We’re excited to have him back, second year removed from Tommy John he said that he feels great, the ball’s coming out,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s got a great look in his eye, he really does, and I don’t think he’s too concerned about the mechanics of the 40 or not, he just wants to stay healthy and compete and pitch well. And so I think that things always have a way of working themselves out so that’s our number one concern.”

Because Beachy is not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and with no apparent intention of putting him there anytime soon, Beachy will most likely begin the 2016 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. But should the Dodgers stumble out of the chute or (Heaven forbid) should someone in the starting rotation land on the disabled list, having a now one hundred percent healthy Brandon Beachy with his five years of MLB experience and ‘that great look in his eye’ only a short plane ride away should give Dodger fans some confidence and comfort heading into the new season.