The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without Brusdar Graterol in their bullpen for an indefinite period.
Ahead of the team’s second game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Graterol has been sidelined from his throwing program once again.
Graterol, who has not pitched this season, has experienced difficulties in his recovery and will continue to remain absent from the team with no set timetable for his return.
Brusdar Graterol has been shut down from his throwing progression again, Dave Roberts said today. Just hasn’t been bouncing back well. Going to be a longer process, it seems.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 24, 2024
Initially placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation before the start of the season, the Dodgers had hoped for a swift recovery. However, Graterol’s shoulder issues persist, stemming from hip tightness during spring training, leading to overcompensation.
Despite expectations for Graterol to play a significant role in the bullpen this season, given his stellar 2023 performance with a 1.20 ERA in 68 appearances, his absence leaves a void in the relief pitching department. The Dodgers’ bullpen has struggled, posting a 4.18 ERA, ranking 19th in Major League Baseball as of Wednesday.
While the bullpen managed a strong performance in Tuesday’s game against the Nationals, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings, the Dodgers will need consistent performances to compensate for Graterol’s absence.
With Graterol’s return uncertain, he will need to progress through bullpen sessions and face live hitters before embarking on a rehab assignment. It’s likely he will require multiple rehab outings before being deemed ready to rejoin the big-league club.
