The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to make it three World Series wins in a row after securing the 2025 title, but the club will have to do it without a key member of the bullpen.
Hard-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol missed all of the 2025 campaign due to surgery. Despite the time off, the 27-year-old will not be ready when the Dodgers begin the regular season on Thursday, March 26.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Wednesday, February 18, that Graterol would not be on the Opening Day roster. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register was among the beat writers to relay the news. There’s no clear timetable for Graterol’s return.
Los Angeles Dodgers Will Be Without Key Reliever Brusdar Graterol
Graterol was integral to the Dodgers squad that took down the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series. He allowed just one earned run over three appearances. Los Angeles won all three contests that Graterol pitched in, as they beat the Yankees in five games.
The postseason success was indicative of Graterol’s strong performance as a valuable member of the Dodgers’ bullpen. He’s delivered a 2.78 ERA across 188 appearances at the big-league level. Graterol’s 98-mph sinker racks up ground balls and helps him limit damage. The righty has allowed a 30.7% hard-hit rate for his career, well below the league average of 37%.
Graterol seemed to be emerging as L.A.’s closer of the future in 2023. He racked up seven saves and 19 holds as a major factor in the late innings. Graterol notched a career-best 1.20 ERA while tossing a career-high 67.1 innings. He was integral to a bullpen that finished third in run prevention that season.
Unfortunately, the talented reliever hit the injured list with shoulder inflammation just before the 2024 season got underway. He missed the majority of the campaign but was able to contribute in the postseason. After the playoffs, Graterol needed the shoulder surgery that cost him all of 2025.
How Will Graterol’s Absence Impact the Dodgers’ Bullpen?
For all of the spending this offseason, Los Angeles didn’t make a ton of additions in the reliever department. The club plucked the top closer off the board, inking Edwin Diaz to a hefty three-year, $69 million deal, but that was about it. The Dodgers also re-upped with former closer Evan Phillips, though that’s more of a long-term play. Phillips is recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected to contribute until midway through the season at the earliest.
The arrival of Diaz pushes 2025 closer Tanner Scott into a setup role. The veteran left-hander was brought in on a four-year, $72 million pact last offseason. Scott secured 23 saves this past season, but it came with an unsightly 4.74 ERA. An injury kept Scott out of postseason action, opening the door for converted starter Roki Sasaki to take over as closer. Sasaki is expected to return to the rotation this year.
Scott and Alex Vesia will be the lefty setup options, but Graterol’s absence leaves a gap on the right-handed side. Blake Treinen is the top candidate to step into that job. A miserable September skewed the final numbers, but the veteran had an ERA near 3.00 with more than a strikeout per inning through August.
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