Mar 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (28) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers place SP Andrew Heaney on IL with shoulder injury

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/20/22

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the regular season as the favorite to win the 2022 World Series and have done little through the first two weeks of the campaign to relinquish that title.

Backed by a trio of former MVPs in their lineup in Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, a stacked rotation with Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw and a fearsome bullpen headed by Craig Kimbrel, manager Dave Roberts' club could push for a case to be one of the best teams ever, if they stay healthy.

Los Angeles received a dose of bad news on Wednesday, as starting pitcher Andrew Heaney was placed on the injury list with a shoulder issue.

The Dodgers recalled IF/OF Zach McKinstry and placed LHP Andrew Heaney on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 20, 2022

While Heaney hasn't exactly lived up to his 2012 first-round draft choice status, the southpaw has shown flashes of dominance over his big-league career since debuting in 2014. After making seven appearances (five starts) with the Miami Marlins in 2014, Heaney was traded to the Dodgers in December of that year as a part of a seven-player deal that also included a pair of All-Stars in Dee Strange-Gordon and Dan Haren.

Heaney was subsequently traded from one Los Angeles team to the other on the same day though, landing with the Angels, where he would pitch for six-plus seasons. The 30-year-old was moved to the New York Yankees in a trade deadline deal in July 2021 and he signed with the Dodgers in November of last year.

An Oklahoma State University product, Heaney has gone 33-38 with a 4.65 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 666 strikeouts over 644 2/3 innings covering 123 games in his career. He was off to a terrific start this season before the injury, having allowed just one run (unearned) on four hits and three walks against 16 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.

More must-reads: