Dodgers News: Graterol Unlikely to Return this Season
Despite the organization being hopeful that Graterol could return this season, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman dumped water on those hopes
LOS ANGELES, CA—While the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen is expected to add several right-handed relief pitchers over the final six games of the regular season and possibly in October, such as Roki Sasaki, Brock Stewart, and Kyle Hurt, one name that won’t be joining that group is Brusdar Graterol.
After last year’s World Series win, Graterol underwent successful shoulder surgery and was set to possibly rejoin the team during the second half of this season.
While Graterol had begun his throwing program and had been rehabbing at the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex, as the season went on from Spring to Summer and now Fall on the horizon, it was clear that Graterol would not be joining the team this season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested as much a few weeks back when asked about the progression of Graterol and whether he’d actually be a possible piece in the Dodgers bullpen in September/October.
“It is possible he doesn’t come back,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s kind of just where he’s been, kind of his whole trek.”
Well, after another weekend media session, this time with President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, we can safely assume Graterol will not impact the team this Fall.
“No, it hasn’t gone as smoothly as he would like, as we would like,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Graterol’s recovery.
“So it’s been hard to kind of ramp up the volume that he would need to get back. So my expectation is he will not be back this year.”
Graterol has had an injury-riddled Dodgers career, which was a concern when the team traded for the right-hander back during the 2020 offseason.
Still, in five seasons with Los Angeles, Graterol has gone 10-8 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 181 appearances and was a massive part of the bullpen “dawgs” last October.
Despite the news, Graterol was seen having long toss before Sunday’s game, and the right-hander did throw a bullpen, so perhaps he’s closer than the team has let on.
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