June 20th, 2024 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka As the NL West first place Dodgers were being walked off by the NL West last place Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday evening, 36-year-old Dodgers ace and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw made his first of what is expected to be several minor league rehab starts, this one with the team’s Low Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at a packed LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga.
On a very strict pitch count, the extremely popular Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in Dallas pitched three innings against the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels), allowing only one run on two his, with one walk and five very Kershaw-like strikeouts, doing so on 36 total pitches, of which 26 were strikes.
“I think it went good. Checked off a lot of boxes, got through three innings,” Kershaw told the large gathered media following his first rehab outing. “So, you know, first time in a game setting and all those things, so it was fun to get back out there, you know. I hadn’t done that in a while. So, as long as everything comes out fine tomorrow, I think I’m on for the next one.”
That “next one” will probably be at Double-A Tulsa or possibly even Triple-A OKC – “…as long as everything comes out fine tomorrow.”
Play Ball!
* * * * * *
Posted in 
Encouraging results. Any word on May’s recovery?
This from last week:
May (elbow) has been throwing at the Dodgers’ complex in Arizona and has topped 90 mph on his fastball, per the Associated Press.
May continues to recover from the surgery he underwent on his right flexor tendon and UCL last July. He began throwing off a mound in mid-May, and based on the recent update about his velocity, appears to be progressing well. When healthy, May’s fastball typically rests in the upper-90s, so he still has a way to go before returning to his full velocity. That said, there’s a chance he could be ready to return to the Dodgers in the latter half of July if he continues to progress without any setbacks.
Thanks Ron. I have been wondering about him and have not seen or heard anything.