Dodgers’ right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler was forced to exit his rehab start after just two innings on Friday after he got hit by a comebacker on his pitching hand.

Buehler, who was making his third rehab start and his first with Rancho Cucamonga, was scheduled to throw somewhere between 80 and 90 pitches on Friday, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pregame.

However, Buehler was hit by a comebacker in the second inning, and was able to remain in the game to finish the inning before being removed.

Walker Buehler’s pitching hand was hit by a ball today during his third rehab start of the year.

He took some time to shake it off and got it checked out before he continued playing.

Tough as nails 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MyM1JTO65j

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 13, 2024

This is an unfortunate turn of events for Buehler, who is trying to return from his second Tommy John surgery. He attempted to make a return late last season, but was shut down after one rehab start.

The Dodgers elected to slow-play his return this season, as he sat out all of spring training. He finally began making rehab starts, though, and was scheduled to pitch today and on Thursday before the Dodgers reassessed where he was at.

Hopefully this isn’t a new injury that Buehler sustained, and rather, the team was just being cautious with their right-handed pitcher. Nonetheless, Buehler only throwing 27 pitches on Friday isn’t ideal as he tries to get built up to return to the Dodgers.