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Dodgers Could Lose Shutdown Brusdar Graterol For Rest of Season
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- Dodgers Could Lose Shutdown Brusdar Graterol For Rest of Season
(Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers received another difficult injury update, this time involving reliever Brusdar Graterol and the possibility that his 2026 season could be in serious jeopardy.
According to a report from Jack Harris of the California Post , Graterol underwent back surgery over the weekend after experiencing another setback during his recovery process.
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The right-hander had already been working his way back from a shoulder injury before his rehab assignment was interrupted by a back issue.
On Sunday, Graterol shared a photo from the operating room on an Instagram story accompanied by a message expressing determination to return and emphasizing that his journey is far from over.
The latest setback adds to what has become an overwhelming list of pitching injuries for Los Angeles .
The Dodgers are currently without Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow in the rotation, while relievers Edwin Díaz , Brock Stewart , Evan Phillips , Ben Casparius , and Bobby Miller are also on the injured list.
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Graterol did not appear in the majors during 2025.
He returned to game action briefly this season and made four appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Across 3.1 innings, he allowed three earned runs while recording three strikeouts and three walks.
Manager Dave Roberts previously explained in mid-May that Graterol's back issue resurfaced after his latest outing with the Comets, delaying his major league return indefinitely.
The decision to undergo surgery now creates even more uncertainty surrounding whether Graterol will be able to contribute in 2026.
Since arriving from the Minnesota Twins in the February 2020 trade, Graterol has developed into an important piece of the Dodgers bullpen.
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He logged 23.1 innings with a 3.09 ERA during the shortened 2020 season before encountering some inconsistency in 2021.
His role expanded in 2022 when he emerged as a trusted late-inning option and collected the first four saves of his major league career while posting a 3.26 ERA.
His breakthrough arrived in 2023. Graterol delivered a dominant 1.20 ERA across a career-high 68 appearances and recorded seven saves while splitting closing duties.
Injuries delayed him again in 2024, but he returned in time to contribute during the World Series against the New York Yankees . He allowed one run in 2.1 innings over three appearances, and Los Angeles won all three games in which he pitched, including the championship-clinching Game 5.
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Even with the growing Injury List, the Dodgers' bullpen has remained one of the strongest groups in baseball. Tanner Scott has handled closing duties effectively with Díaz sidelined, and Los Angeles has continued receiving contributions throughout the bullpen.
Six different Dodgers pitchers have recorded saves this season. Scott and Díaz lead the way, while Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia have also contributed. Will Klein (1.88 ERA) and Kyle Hurt (1.00 ERA) have added the first saves of their careers, becoming valuable options late in games for Dave Roberts.
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