Parallel paths, different journeys: Dodgers hurlers bond over TJ recoveries

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Undergoing Tommy John surgery is just the beginning of an arduous road to recovery.

The Dodgers are more familiar with that process than they would like to be. The team has had several pitchers undergo Tommy John in the past few years, including three last season: Emmet Sheehan in May, followed by Kyle Hurt in July and River Ryan in August.

For players dealing with serious injuries, being away from the team for so long can be an isolating experience. The one silver lining for the Dodgers recovering from Tommy John surgery last year was that they weren't alone while rehabbing in Arizona -- they were able to lean on each other.

"You don't really know what it's like until it happens to you," Sheehan said. "It's not something you want to deal with, but it makes it a lot easier having those guys having gone through it."

Last year, Sheehan started the season on the injured list but wasn't sure if he would need Tommy John surgery. As he weighed his options, he reached out to Tony Gonsolin, who had undergone the procedure the previous September.

Once Sheehan determined that getting the surgery was the best outcome for him, he continued to lean on Gonsolin, as well as Dustin May. May underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and flexor tendon surgery in '23, then had to have an emergency procedure on his esophagus last summer.

Sheehan wasn't seeking medical advice. He had the Dodgers' training staff to turn to for that. Talking to Gonsolin and May helped give Sheehan an idea of how to navigate the road ahead.

"Getting to learn from those guys, especially early in the process when the light at the end of the tunnel was pretty far away, was big," Sheehan said.

By the time Hurt and Ryan came along in the summer, Sheehan was able to shed some light on the process. Gonsolin was still around to be a resource as well, though he had progressed to the point of nearing a rehab assignment by then.

With Hurt and Ryan not too far apart in their recovery timelines, the two have been able to use each other as touchpoints as well.

"It definitely is a good peace of mind," Ryan said, "knowing that when they say something that you're feeling, it's like, 'OK, I'm not the only one feeling this,' or it's not out of the ordinary, what I'm doing or how I'm feeling."

Said Hurt: "It's kind of interesting to see how we both feel day by day and share how our elbow, shoulder and whatnot is feeling."

Beyond the physical and mental challenges of rehab, there's also the question of how to fill the hours in a day that would normally be occupied with baseball activities. For many rehabbing players, it's the most time that they've been left to their own devices -- and can't fill the time with baseball -- during the regular season in a long while.

That's another way the Dodgers recovering from Tommy John were able to make the best out of a bad situation: by simply passing the time together.

They played a lot of video games, as is typical, but also made an effort to spend time outside doing activities that would not interfere with their rehab. Sheehan and Ryan liked going fishing, and sometimes others would join.

At night, they would watch Dodgers games, which sometimes stirred up mixed emotions.

"It's also pretty tough, sometimes, to watch that game and see people out there and know that you know you should be out there helping the team, and you're not able to do that," Sheehan said. "It's not fun."

Even now, all three Dodgers who had Tommy John last year are a ways away from being able to contribute to the team. Sheehan is the closest, and he's hoping to begin a rehab assignment in May or June. Hurt and Ryan have both resumed playing catch, but neither is likely to be an option until the final month of the season, at the earliest.

No amount of solidarity changes the facts of their situation. But they're finding a way to get through it.

"It's hard not being with all the guys, being at the baseball games, wanting to cheer your teammates on," Ryan said. "That can be challenging. But when you have a good group of guys you're going through rehab with, it definitely makes the days go by a lot faster."