Edwin Díaz’s Arm Injury: What ‘Loose Bodies’ Mean for His Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers moved closer Edwin Diaz to the injured list ahead of Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies due to the presence of loose bodies in his right elbow, but what does that mean?

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Diaz has struggled in his last couple of relief appearances, which came eight days apart. He allowed three runs in each, with a week full of injury rumors and fitness questions in between.

Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) delivers to the plate as he earns a save in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

What Exactly is Edwin Diaz’s Injury?

Per Armdocs.com, loose bodies in the elbow are “small fragments of bone or gristle, which are floating in the joint.”

The go on to explain causes of the injury, stating wear and tear changes in the joint are the leading cause for the injury. Symptoms include the catching or locking of the joint, which have potential to induce pain in the patient.

As far as treatment goes, the site says mild cases don’t require immediate attention and can be monitored, but troublesome ones may require surgical treatment.

After the roster move Monday, the Dodgers announced Diaz would undergo a procedure to deal with the issue he has in his elbow.

When Will Edwin Diaz Come Back?

The Dodgers provided a vague timeline around Diaz in their announcement, stating he would return sometime in the second half of the season, or after the All-Star break.

Per professional sports doctor Riley J. Williams III. MD, a full recovery from elbow arthroscopy—the generally accepted treatment—can typically be achieved in six to eight weeks. Diaz can begin training once again as soon as two to three weeks following the surgery. That doesn’t quite line up with the timeline the Dodgers provided, but they’ll keep their fingers crossed Diaz can make a speedy recovery.

Williams makes sure to note these aren’t concrete timelines for recovery, and players should use their pain as a guide towards their recovery.

Who Will Take Over for Edwin Diaz in the Meantime?

The Dodgers, in the meantime, have a few options to consider when looking at their closer for the next few months.

Tanner Scott is the obvious answer, as they brought him in to be a closer last year and has looked much better than he did during a disappointing 2025 campaign. Alex Vesia is surely in the mix as well, as he’s off to a torrid start to the season. The left-hander hasn’t allowed a run through any of his 10 appearances, and has only allowed two hits.

A third option for the Dodgers is Will Klein, who despite never having closed before is the Dodgers best right-handed relief arm in leverage situations. The Dodgers are fond of playing for matchups in the late innings, and Klein could be a right-handed answer if they don’t want to put a lefty in.

Who do you want to take over as the closer in place of Edwin Díaz?

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