It was one of those things that made you say “Hmmm.”

One the very first pitch that Dodgers right-hander Tom Koehler threw after relieving Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in the bottom of the third inning of Friday afternoon’s spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, White Sox center fielder Adam Engel promptly deposited it on the grass berm down the left field line for a solo home run.

Nineteen pitches later, after inducing an unassisted ground out to first and issuing two walks, you could tell that something wasn’t right with the 31-year-old Bronx, New York native, whom the Dodgers had signed as a free agent on December 20, 2017 after losing star free agent right-hander Brandon Morrow to the Chicago Cubs to the tune of two years and $21 million.

After making that 19th pitch, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal called time and went out to talk with his pitcher. Seconds later, Grandal – and Koehler himself – called for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and assistant athletic trainer Nate Lucero, and seconds after that, Koehler’s spring training – his first with the Dodgers – was officially over.

This is never a good thing.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Within minutes of his departure from the game, reports came in that Koehler was having an MRI on his right shoulder, of which Koehler has a history of problems. And then, on Saturday morning, Koehler confirmed the worst. He had suffered a strain of the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, albeit what is being called a “mild strain.”

“It’s not the way I’d like my tenure as a Dodger to start, two weeks in,” Koehler said. “But [stuff] happens.”

When asked how long he might be out, Koehler said that he is uncertain.

“It all depends on how everything works,” Koehler told reporters, when asked how long he might be out. “Could be weeks, could be months. Right now, it is a little bit of an unknown.”

As a point of reference, 21-year-old Dodgers left-handed phenom Julio Urias is currently recovering from shoulder surgery for a torn (not strained) anterior capsule in his left shoulder, which generally takes 12 to 14 months to fully recover from. But as of this moment, the word “surgery” hasn’t been mentioned for Koehler – not yet, at least.

“That word wasn’t even mentioned,” said Koehler. “I think that’s one of the reasons I’m kind of okay today, kind of upbeat. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. But the surgery option was not mentioned and I will be pitching again this year. I just don’t know when.”

During his morning media brief, Roberts told reporters exactly what he is supposed to say in these situations.

“We’re optimistic he’ll be back this year.”

But what if he isn’t? Who will fill what was pretty much a guaranteed spot in the Dodgers bullpen for Koehler in the meantime … or perhaps longer?

This, according to MLB.com Dodgers beat writer Ken Gurnick:

All of a sudden Roberts’ spring training 2018 buzz phrase “Competition is a good thing” is beginning to take on an entirely new meaning. It is beginning to look more like survival of the fittest.

Stay tuned…