Brusdar Graterol’s Injury Saga Continues: Will the Dodgers’ Star Reliever Ever Fully Recover?
Baseball fans, brace yourselves—Brusdar Graterol’s journey back to the mound is proving to be more complicated than anyone anticipated. After a heroic return from right shoulder issues to pitch in the 2024 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ reliever is once again sidelined, leaving fans and the team in a state of uncertainty. But here’s where it gets even more concerning: the lingering effects of his injury are now casting a shadow over the 2025 season.
Let’s rewind for a moment. During the final week of the 2024 season, Graterol was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. Despite this setback, he made a surprising appearance in the World Series, pitching 2.1 innings against the New York Yankees and allowing just one run. However, the celebration was short-lived. That November, he underwent surgery to repair his labrum, a procedure that initially sidelined him for at least the first half of 2025. Fast forward to today, and the 27-year-old is still not at full strength, despite hopes for a return this season.
And this is the part most people miss: Graterol’s medical history has been a recurring theme, even becoming a sticking point in a potential three-team trade involving the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Dodgers. Ultimately, the Dodgers retained Graterol while trading Kenta Maeda to the Twins and renegotiating terms with the Red Sox for Mookie Betts and David Price. Now, his slow recovery is raising questions about the team’s long-term strategy.
According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is taking a cautious approach with Graterol this spring. ‘The ball hasn’t come out the way they’d expected,’ Ardaya noted, highlighting the ongoing challenges in Graterol’s recovery. This isn’t an isolated issue, either. Teammates like Blake Snell, Evan Phillips, and Brock Stewart are also behind schedule, with Snell revealing he pitched through similar shoulder troubles during the World Series. But Graterol’s situation feels particularly precarious.
Here’s the controversial question: Are the Dodgers risking Graterol’s long-term health by rushing his return, or are they justified in their cautious approach? Roberts insists the team is prioritizing the bigger picture, emphasizing a slow but intentional recovery process. ‘We’ve got a long camp,’ he said. ‘Try to get guys to start slow but methodical.’
While there’s still time for Graterol to get back on track before Opening Day, the Dodgers won’t hesitate to err on the side of caution if needed. For now, fans are left wondering: Will Graterol ever return to his dominant form, or will his shoulder issues become a career-defining challenge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—is the Dodgers’ patience with Graterol the right call, or should they explore other options?
