The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol had surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He is expected to miss the first half of the 2025 season.
Dodgers Reliever Has Surgery, Will Miss First Half Of 2025
The Injury Bug
Gaterol had been battling injuries since Spring Training, Unable to make the Opening Day roster because of shoulder inflammation, his return for the regular season kept getting pushed back.
Short-lived Season Debut
When the fireballer did make his long-awaited return to the mound in August, he made eight pitches before being helped off the field with a pulled hamstring. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts characterized the injury as “grade three” in severity. However, Gaterol’s condition was upgraded to a “grade one” pull the next day. There was hope that the right-hander could return before the end of the season and make the postseason roster.
Small Sample Size, But Big Contribution
Gaterol returned from the Injured List in September and lasted until the last week of the season. As a result, the Dodgers missed the right-hander’s sub-2 postseason Earned Run Average in the Division Series against the San Diego Padres and in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
However, the right-hander made the World Series roster against the New York Yankees. Joining a weary bullpen, he pitched through the shoulder injury. In three pivotal appearances, he gave up just one earned run. Gaterol did just enough to be effective in games where every out was important. The Dodgers are World Series Champions.
Looking To 2025
With Daniel Hudson announcing his retirement and Gaterol out until the second half of the year, the Dodgers will be missing two high-leverage relievers next year. Will Los Angeles make signing World Series Hero Blake Trienen a priority? We will have to wait and see.
Main Photo Credits: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
