what happened to walker buehler

Walker Buehler is still active in MLB; most recently, he agreed to a minor‑league deal with the San Diego Padres as he tries to rebuild his career after major elbow surgery and a rough couple of seasons.

Quick Scoop: What happened to Walker Buehler?

From ace with the Dodgers to injury setbacks

• Buehler was one of the top starters in baseball with the Dodgers from 2018–2021, posting a 2.82 ERA and a 39–13 record over those four seasons.

• In August 2022, he underwent his second Tommy John surgery plus additional elbow work, a major turning point that derailed his run as an ace.

• Since that surgery, the central story has been him trying to recapture his old form while staying healthy.

Struggles in his comeback

• After returning, Buehler’s velocity and command weren’t consistently at his old level, and his results slipped.

• In 2024, he dealt with a right hip injury and spent close to two months on the injured list, then struggled in his first start back, part of a season marked by inconsistency.

• By 2025, he was no longer pitching like a front‑of‑the‑rotation star: over 126 innings with Boston and Philadelphia, he had a 4.93–5.45 ERA range, a high WHIP, and elevated walk totals that pushed him off those rosters.

Recent moves and latest news (early 2026)

• Buehler entered the 2025–26 offseason as a free agent, viewed around the league as a “prove‑it” candidate who might need an incentive‑heavy or short‑term deal to stay in a rotation picture.

• On February 16, 2026, reports surfaced that he agreed to a minor‑league deal with the San Diego Padres, pending a physical.

• The deal gives the Padres a low‑risk arm for their spring competition: he’ll battle with names like Griffin Canning, Germán Márquez, Marco Gonzales, JP Sears, Matt Waldron, and others for a back‑end rotation spot.

Where things stand now

• Buehler is no longer the automatic playoff ace he once was; he’s more of a reclamation project trying to prove he can still be a reliable starter after two Tommy John surgeries.

• If he shows enough stuff and health in camp, the Padres could call him up during the season; if not, he remains minor‑league depth while he continues to adjust his repertoire and approach.

• Around forums and fan discussions, the “what happened to Walker Buehler” conversation usually boils down to: elite peak, major elbow surgery (again), inconsistent post‑surgery performance, and now a grind to stay in the league on short‑term, lower‑leverage deals.

TL;DR: Walker Buehler didn’t just disappear—injuries and diminished results knocked him off his Dodgers‑ace pedestal, and as of February 2026 he’s trying to reboot his career on a minor‑league deal with the Padres.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.