Edwin Diaz is finally closing in on a return. The Dodgers veteran closer is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario on Saturday, marking what the team hopes is the final leg of his recovery from elbow surgery.
Diaz has been out since late April after doctors found loose bodies in his right elbow. He had arthroscopic surgery on April 22 to clean things up, and it’s been a slow grind back ever since. Last weekend, he faced live hitters during batting practice — including infielder Kiké Hernández and prospect Alex Freeland — and apparently looked sharp. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Diaz touched 94-95 mph with his fastball and came out of those sessions feeling good.
That velocity is a key checkpoint. Before the injury, Diaz’s fastball had dipped to 92.8 mph, which raised red flags with the team’s medical staff and eventually led to the shutdown. Over seven appearances this season, he struck out 10 batters in six innings but also got tagged for a 10.50 ERA. The stuff just wasn’t there.
The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal last offseason, banking on the guy who saved 28 games with a 1.63 ERA in 2025. He’s got 257 career saves across stints with Seattle, the Mets and now Los Angeles, but the 2026 season was essentially a write-off after seven outings. The team hasn’t said how many rehab appearances he’ll need before being activated, but the organization views this as the final hurdle.
Los Angeles heads into the All-Star break with a 61-34 record and a comfortable lead in the National League West. Tanner Scott has handled the bulk of closing duties while Diaz is out, but getting a healthy Diaz back after the break could be a game-changer for a bullpen that’s already looked solid.
The Dodgers haven’t announced a specific timeline for his activation yet. But if Saturday goes well, don’t be surprised if Diaz is back in a big-league uniform within the next couple weeks.
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