Phillips right on schedule for return from Tommy John surgery

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LOS ANGELES -- It has been more than a year since Evan Phillips last pitched in a big league game. In that span, he's brought home another World Series ring, welcomed a second child with his wife and gained firsthand appreciation for what it takes to navigate the road back from Tommy John surgery.

Phillips still has a ways to go until he's ready for big league action, but he was able to get on the Dodger Stadium mound to throw his third live batting practice session Tuesday. After two more live outings, Phillips is tentatively scheduled to join Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin a rehab assignment.

The last time Phillips appeared in a game was May 5 of last year. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow about a month later, meaning that he would be just past 12 months post-op if he indeed joins the Comets toward the end of next week.

So far, Phillips' rehab has proceeded right on schedule. Once he heads to Triple-A, he'll likely spend the maximum 30 days allotted to rehabbing pitchers down in the Minors as he rebuilds his arm for Major League action. If all continues to go as planned, he could be lined up to return to the Dodgers in July.

"It's really good to see," manager Dave Roberts said. "Evan's a guy that's very focused and determined, and he's going to do everything he's supposed to do to get back. And to potentially have him back is a big weapon that we've missed for quite some time, and I miss seeing him around. … I depended on him a lot when he was active, so to get him back is going to be a big boost to everyone."

The long road to recovery winds on, but it's nearing an end.

"Happy with how my body's feeling," Phillips said. "Still a lot to do ahead of me, so I'll worry about refining and all that kind of stuff as we go. Just happy to be back out there. Definitely took a moment on the rubber to enjoy being back at Dodger Stadium again. It felt good, for sure."

Phillips made just seven appearances in 2025, having begun the year on the injured list with a right rotator cuff strain that had also kept him off the '24 World Series roster. His season-ending surgery left the Dodgers without one of their most reliable back-end relievers, as Phillips had posted a 2.22 ERA with 45 saves over five seasons in L.A.

Many players coming back from long-term injuries are out of sight, out of mind for most of their rehab, but Phillips remained with the Dodgers during their postseason run. Not long after his team secured back-to-back championships, Phillips reached a milestone by beginning a throwing program in November. He was non-tendered later that month, but his first foray into free agency brought him back to L.A. just before Spring Training.

Early on in the spring, Phillips worked his way back to throwing off the mound. By the time the Dodgers broke camp, he had moved on to full bullpen sessions. With every outing, he gradually built up a little more. Rehab can be a monotonous process, but Phillips also had plenty to look forward to off the field, as he and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed their first daughter.

And when he could, Phillips kept tabs on the Dodgers -- and their bullpen, which recently put together a historic 38-inning scoreless streak.

"I watch all the games, or I try to," Phillips said. "Got two kids at home now, so a little bit busier at the house, but definitely checking the box scores, trying to watch as much as I can, staying in touch as much as I can, making trips like this to be part of the group as much as I can, too. So really proud of what they've been doing. It's a long year, so let's hope we keep it up."

With each day, Phillips gets closer to joining that effort. He has several boxes to check before the time comes, but he is focused on coming back strong for the back-to-back champions.

"I feel like I'm able to compete right now," Phillips said. "I just have to build up the tolerance and bounce back and be able to be a reliable reliever day in and day out."