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Ohman says he can help this year

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Dodgers reliever Will Ohman said Friday he’s capable of coming off the disabled list before the regular season is over to “hopefully come back and help” the club.

“The health is back, no pain or discomfort,” the left-hander said of shoulder and elbow problems in his throwing arm that have left him on the disabled list since May 28.

Ohman, who had a 5.84 earned-run average in 21 games, said before Friday’s Dodgers-Diamondbacks game that he started throwing again about three weeks ago, including pitching from a mound, after an extended period of rest.

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Asked if a minor league rehabilitation stint would be next, he replied: “I would assume that would be the next progression.”

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said he spoke with Ohman on Friday and “I said in all probability we’re talking about September” for a possible return. As for any rehab assignment, “we don’t have a date for that yet,” Torre said.

After Ohman, who turned 32 on Thursday, went on the disabled list, Dodgers starter Randy Wolf -- looking for any change that would end a string of no-decisions he’d endured -- took Ohman’s uniform number of 43 last month.

“I had no problem with it,” Ohman said. “It’s been his number since he first came up to the big leagues,” although Wolf had been wearing No. 21 this year.

“I told him in spring training, ‘You want it? Because I’m not married to it,” Ohman said of No. 43.

Back home

More than one Dodger looks forward to playing the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, including outfielder Andre Ethier, who was born and raised in Phoenix and still keeps his home here.

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“Not many guys get a chance to actually go to their home after a game during the season,” said Ethier, who also got his first big league hit at Chase Field in 2006 when he made his Dodgers debut.

“It’s a great chance for a mini family reunion three times a summer when I come back and play” at Chase Field, said Ethier, whose wife, Maggie, also is a Phoenix native.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson, who joined the team this year from the Diamondbacks, said he also looks forward to returning.

“It feels great to see how my old boys are, my boys over there,” Hudson said of the Diamondbacks. “It was a great time playing here, I had my first postseason here in Arizona and, even though I was hurt, it was a lot of fun.”

“I spent three good, fun, long years here in Arizona, so it’s always great to come back.”

Hudson returned to the starting lineup Friday after not starting in the previous two games because of a strained groin. Before that, he had a 10-game hitting streak.

“There’s still a long way to go,” he said. “But I’m feeling a little better at the plate, and having Don Mattingly as a hitting coach you can never go wrong.”

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Gould signed

The Dodgers signed second-round draft selection Garrett Gould, a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher from Maize High near Wichita, Kan., who received a signing bonus of $900,000.

“I’m really excited to be a Dodger,” said Gould, 18, who also considered attending Wichita State. “I knew that this is really where I wanted to end up.”

Logan White, the Dodgers’ assistant general manager for scouting, called Gould “a real good competitor” who has “a really good arm” and a “power curveball.”

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james.peltz@latimes.com

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