Elbert returns to mound after four surgeries

LOS ANGELES -- Forgotten man Scott Elbert, who has had four operations since last pitching in a game, began a rehab assignment on Wednesday night with a rough outing at Rookie-level Ogden.

The Dodgers' left-handed reliever started the game, faced five batters and retired two. He reached a 20-pitch limit when allowing a three-run homer to Hamlet Marte. He also struck out one, walked one and allowed an infield single.

Elbert had last pitched for Ogden 10 years ago.

Elbert, 28, missed the entire 2013 season after undergoing three operations on his left elbow. He had scar tissue removed Sept. 19, 2012, debridement of cartilage in a different area of the elbow on Jan. 23, 2013, and Tommy John reconstruction along with a microfracture procedure on June 7, 2013. Just before Spring Training this year, he underwent an emergency appendectomy.

If Elbert comes out of the outing healthy, he is scheduled to continue the assignment on Saturday night with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.