Spring Training games have long been referred to as meaningless games, and understandably so. They have no bearing whatsoever on the MLB regular season standings or stats, nor on who will ultimately represent their respective leagues in the World Series.

But prior to Monday’s meaningless Spring Training game between the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles and the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim at Dodger Stadium, something meaningful happened.

Twenty-nine-year-old Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, continued his aggressive rehabilitation throwing program that has included throwing to live hitters in simulated games and ongoing bullpen sessions.

It gets even more meaningful.

During his meaningful sim game on Monday afternoon, the extremely popular Lexington, KY native and Dodgers first round draft pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt University consistently hit 97 mph with his fastball.

“He threw four innings, right around 60 pitches,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters of Buehler’s meaningful sim game after his team’s ugly 6-0 meaningless loss to the Angels on Monday evening. “I thought he threw the ball well. I think the main thing for that is just to get him built up and to keep facing hitters. But I know, speaking for Walker, this process has been long.”

“And so, to continue to face… you know, do sim games gets kind of redundant, so I don’t know the next step of his progression,” Roberts added. “Obviously, the next step for Walker will be a bullpen in two days, and then we’ll see where we go from there, but I thought today was positive for Walker.”

Rather meaningful, wouldn’t you say?

Play Ball!

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