Dunedin Snapshots: Chad Dallas

By: Brian Frank

Chad Dallas is optimistic about his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. After making 14 starts for the Bisons, Dallas underwent the procedure on his right elbow in September of 2024. Speaking to The Herd Chronicles from Blue Jays’ spring training in Dunedin, Florida, the righthander reflected on the past year and a half of recovery.

“I got out probably around the World Series—I think it was a little before,” he said. “Things have gone well. It was a pretty smooth rehab. I got a full offseason, which was nice, kind of, get back home, get with the offseason group that we’re with. My arm has been feeling really good, no problems since coming back. Just slowly building up the innings and the pitches to kind of get back to where we’re truly set free. But out of rehab, everything’s been smooth.”

Throwing live batting practice in Dunedin. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

The journey back to the mound post-Tommy John surgery is both physically and mentally demanding for any pitcher.

“I’d say just continuing to stack the good days,” Dallas said of the biggest challenge he faced during his recovery. “Some days your arm doesn’t feel good. Some days, the little tedious exercises that you have to do seem like it’s not doing anything, but in reality, they are. So I think just kind of keeping a controlled mindset of these are the things you’ve got to do. Just get them in and then you’re done for the day. I would say just the little tedious work is mainly the hardest part. But showing up to the field with a good mindset is also something that us as a group kind of planned on doing. Kind of no pity me stuff. I think as a group, that helped a lot of people.”

The Blue Jays’ fourth-round pick in the 2021 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Tennessee hopes to be ready by Opening Day, though there is no firm timetable for his return. He’s looked sharp in live batting practice sessions in Dunedin, suggesting his regular-season return is not far off.

“I think we may be doing a slower buildup to get to those full starter amounts of innings—which is great,” he said. “I don’t have the feeling of being like I have to be ready by this day. It’s more of a slower build up, which is nice. You don’t feel like everything has to be done by this certain day. They’re working with me, as I am with them, on figuring out, I’m not going to say perfect, but the correct build up—but I should be ready for the season.”

Dallas has made 14 Triple-A starts. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

The 25-year-old hurler believes his time away from the diamond allowed him to study aspects of the game he might not have been able to focus on had he been taking the mound every fifth day.

“I think I probably watched more baseball on television last season than I have in my whole life,” he explained. “So that was a big plus of getting to see the vets and the guys on the big league roster, how they maneuver, whether it’s from start to start, or from pitch to pitch, and obviously being here in spring training getting to watch those guys, I think—I believe I am. I feel like I came out stronger, and if not, right where I was. But I think mindset-wise, sitting out watching your organization, play for a World Series, kind of lights another fire or re-spark, if anything, to getting back into competing. So I think I am. I don’t think we really changed much, but you have so much time to figure this out. You kind of have time to make those little tweaks that you feel like you needed—so I think it all worked out.”

“Mechanics are, I would say, pretty close to the same,” he continued. “Maybe a little bit different tempo wise. We did a lot of work on the sinker, trying to make that a consistent and comfortable pitch for me. Messed with the curveball grip a little bit, which kind of kept it into a true shape, instead of blending with other off-speed pitches. But other than that, the focus was obviously health and just finding the zone as often as possible.”