"Injury concern led to a somewhat unexpected development of the Los Angeles Dodgers being in position to draft Walker Buehler with the No. 24 overall pick in 2015. Unfortunately, worries about his health were warranted as Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after getting drafted. It was a possibility the Dodgers were mindful of and then-general manager Farhan Zaidi said the organization didn't regret taking Buehler in the first round. "We're playing the long game," Zaidi told media."
"Buehler went on to make his MLB debut during the 2017 season, though struggled in a bullpen role and yielded a 7.71 ERA across eight appearances. He received another opportunity the following year and it marked the start of Buehler's ascension into one of the best young pitchers in baseball. Buehler's impressive rookie season garnered trust from the Dodgers to start against the Colorado Rockies in a Game 163 to decide the National League West."
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series titles and three championships in the last six years, but franchise postseason results since 2000 are mixed. Individual performances and standout players have shaped modern Dodgers history. Rankings of the best Dodgers players over the past 25 years place Walker Buehler among notable contributors. Buehler was drafted 24th in 2015 amid injury concern and underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter. The organization treated the pick as a long-term investment. Buehler debuted in 2017, struggled in a bullpen role, broke out in 2018, and delivered a dominant Game 163 start before strong 2019 and 2020 seasons.
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