Brandon Morrow talks about returning to the Dodgers

The last time Dodgers fans saw Brandon Morrow in a Dodgers uniform, he was throwing in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. That game marked the seventh consecutive game he pitched for LA in that series.

That offseason, he signed as a free-agent with the Cubs. He was great for them in 2018, but an injury cost him the rest of his season and all of 2019. Then in 2020, he was released. Now, three-and-a-half years later, he’s back with LA looking for a second chance with the hopes of cracking the big-league roster.

“I hope to have the same impact I did before,” Morrow said to the media over Zoom on Saturday. “I’d love to get to the form I was in 2017 and 2018. I feel like I still have it in me if my body is cooperating. So far so good.”

Morrow threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Friday, saying he felt really good coming out of it. He said that he’s been trying to gradually build up his arm strength. He’s thrown probably 10 bullpen sessions leading up to Spring Training.

After his bullpen session ended, Morrow said he felt great. He added that he felt locked in mechanically and that the ball was coming out the same as it would be in any other Spring Training.

After he was released by the Cubs in July of last year, Morrow said Andrew Friedman reached out shortly after, letting him know he’d love to have him back in Los Angeles whenever he is healthy again.

“Whenever I felt like I was healthy, he wanted me to let him know,” Morrow said. “I had an offer very early to come back. I put my eye on it and started working out.”

Morrow started working out again once he felt he was healthy enough to begin his rehab. He said having the summer off did wonders and was very beneficial for him, saying his arm feels really strong now because of it.

During LA’s playoff run in 2017, Morrow appeared in 14 total games. He had a 3.95 ERA, but almost all of his earned runs came in Game 5 of the World Series on the road at Houston. His 2017 campaign was arguably the best of his career, as he finished the season with a 2.06 ERA, 1.55 FIP and 0.91 WHIP.

Morrow talked about that 2017 season, saying he was glad to see the Dodgers win the World Series last year after being cheated out of one in 2017. “I was pulling for them the whole way,” he said. “I’m happy for all the guys that lost in 2017 and 2018. I can’t imagine going through it again. I was really happy for all those guys. Jealous at the same time.”

It’ll still take some time for Morrow to get back on track, as he hasn’t pitched in a major-league game since July of 2018. But, he’s feeling healthy and ready to help the Dodgers with whatever is needed out of him.

“I’m open to anything that gets me back pitching in the major-leagues,” he said. “I’m definitely capable of [long relief] but it all depends on what you’re built up for. I’m very comfortable in almost every situation.”