Dodgers: A Corey Knebel Injury Update Proves to Be Best Case Scenario after Line Drive
The Dodgers got a little late spring training scare this week after reliever Corey Knebel took a line drive off the side in a game on Friday. The training staff opted to remove him from the game out of precaution, but thankfully there was good news on Saturday.
Dave Roberts had the best case scenario update for the media.
Corey Knebel fine after taking the line drive off of him in the last game.
He should pitch in a game during the Freeway Series.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) March 27, 2021
I think it was a love handle contusion. That’s what I got from the training staff. As I understand it right now, it was a best case scenario if you’re talking about a line drive somewhere off the body.
So what comes next for the right-hander?
He played catch [on Saturday] and he will pitch in a game, if all goes well, in the freeway series. I think it’ll be Sunday or Monday.
Knebel is in the midst of a fine spring with the Dodgers, his first with the team. In 7 appearances, he’s struck out 8 batters while walking 2 and surrendering a run in 6.2 innings pitched (1.35 ERA). The former NL All-Star closer came to LA in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He missed all of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and struggled with mechanics in his return from the IL in 2020. The hope is that he can be the latest in a long line of reclamation projects for the Dodgers. The 29-year-old is expected to pick up high leverage innings as a bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.
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