Walker Buehler will start the San Diego Padres’ series-opener against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.
The right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in mid-February and it was reported on March 21 that the former Boston Red Sox hurler was “expected to” make San Diego’s starting rotation.
According to Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times, Buehler said ahead of his 2026 regular season debut that he pitched through elbow pain during the entire 2025 campaign.
“(It wasn’t until) about early (this) spring,” the 31-year-old, who made 22 starts with the Red Sox last season, said. “Kind of right before I signed, things were kind of trending in a good direction and it feels a lot better than in the past.”
Buehler spent the first eight years of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making two NL All-Star teams and winning two World Series titles.
He had his second Tommy John surgery in August 2022 though and didn’t return to the Dodgers pitching staff until May 2024.
Buehler signed with Boston in December 2024 and went 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA with the Red Sox before being released in August.
He soon joined the Philadelphia Phillies and went 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA across 13 2/3 innings pitched covering three games (two starts) with the NL East team.
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