The Los Angeles Dodgers received good news on reliever Brusdar Graterol’s injury, manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday, after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 hamstring strain, instead of the Grade 3 strain that was initially feared.
Roberts said the team is “hopeful” Graterol can still return this season, but his recovery timeline is to be determined.
Graterol, who suffered a shoulder injury early in spring training, was making his season debut Tuesday night when he felt a pop in the back of his right leg after only eight pitches. He had to be helped off the field by teammate Enrique Hernandez and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert. Graterol was clearly emotional as he made his way into the dugout.
Roberts said after the game that the team believed the injury to be a Grade 3 strain, which would effectively end Graterol’s season after it had only just begun.
Graterol, 25, has been a crucial high-leverage reliever in recent years, posting a 2.08 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 114 appearances from 2022 to 2023. He was lined up to be one of the Dodgers’ primary setup men in 2024.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has suffered through a slew of injuries and is currently without three key relievers in Blake Treinen, Michael Grove and Ryan Brasier, though all three are expected back relatively soon.
Information from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez was included in this report.
