Ex-Henry Clay star Buehler back from injury, ready for minor league debut

Former Henry Clay star Walker Buehler will make his professional debut Tuesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie league squad in the Arizona League.

Buehler, a first-round pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt, had Tommy John surgery a couple of months later in August.

The right-handed pitcher is the Dodgers’ No. 7 prospect, according to MLB.com.

The Los Angeles Times’ Andy McCullough reported that Buehler is expected to pitch one inning in his first start.

The Dodgers had previously indicated that Buehler wouldn’t pitch until fall instructional league, so his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule.

“He’s almost like a pick this year,” scouting director Billy Gasparino told The Los Angeles Times in early June.

“Walker has a real chance to be a significant contributor in our starting rotation within the next few years,” President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said then.

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Ex-Henry Clay star Buehler back from injury, ready for minor league debut."