The Dodgers must take their time with Walker Buehler

The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the most exciting prospects in baseball, Walker Buehler. Patience is key as the Dodgers continue to manage Buehler.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ farm system has been churning out talent. The last two NL Rookie of the Years have been homegrown products of the Dodgers farm. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger are now the faces of the franchise moving forward.

Even with perhaps the best roster in baseball, the farm system is not taking a step back. MLB Pipeline ranked the Dodgers’ farm as the tenth-best in baseball. Los Angeles has three prospects in the top 100. The fourth, Mitchell White, arguably should be included as well.

And let’s not forget that the pride and joy of the Dodgers’ farm system, Julio Urias, is still awaiting his return from shoulder surgery. Urias has bonified ace potential. He is still only 21 years old.

However, Walker Buehler is getting all of the attention right now. Buehler is the Dodgers’ number one prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and is also considered the 12th-best prospect in all of baseball.

Buehler is special. His Spring Training debut only added fuel to the fire and reminded everyone how good he really is.

Yeah, he’s good. Just with his high nineties fastball and a tremendous curveball he is incredible. Throw in an above average slider and changeup and Buehler’s ceiling is as high as a franchise-centered ace.

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The Dodgers must remember that, more than anything, while they move forward in managing Buehler. His stuff is incredible, there is no denying that. He probably is big league ready, you definitely can make a very solid case for it. But one thing should stay in the back of everyone’s mind: patience.

As big of a fan as I am of Buehler, he shouldn’t make the Opening Day starting rotation. LA already has five guys, Kershaw, Alex Wood, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Throwing him to the sharks immediately is a disaster waiting to happen.

LA could utilize him in the bullpen like Ross Stripling, but that would only get him used to short outings. The Dodgers need to find the perfect balance of a lesser workload that is enough to keep him in a routine. Being the primary starter for AAA Oklahoma City is the best way to accomplish that.

Then, if and only if, someone in the rotation gets hurt the Dodgers can bring Buehler up for a spot start or two. LA cannot wear him down throughout the year, he is just two and a half years removed from Tommy John surgery, after all.

It may be an unpopular opinion and that is completely fine, I get it. People love how Walker Buehler looks and want to see him contribute as soon as possible. As a fan, I agree, I would line up to buy tickets to a game in which Walker Buehler starts.

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But starting those games should not be a consistent trend until 2019. With Ryu’s contract expiring, and potentially Kershaw’s, Buehler will have plenty of time to pitch then. For now, just be patient with the 23-year-old.