Walker Buehler just took a giant step forward.
The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher is slated to begin a rehab assignment for the Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers this weekend, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com.
Buehler has been out of game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season, and Sunday will be the first time he takes the mound in a regulation game since June 10, 2022, when he threw five innings against the San Francisco Giants.
The 29-year-old right-hander has always made a return in 2023 his goal, and he may just do it given this development.