On Sunday, Brusdar Graterol faced yet another setback in his long injury journey. The Dodgers relief pitcher had surgery for a back issue that arose during a minor league rehab stint earlier this month. This information came to light after Graterol himself shared the news on Instagram.
This latest development leaves his status for the remainder of the season uncertain and could signal the start of a prolonged recovery process. Graterol expressed some resilience in his post, stating, “I fell again, but I’m not staying here. I stand up. My goals are not over. They are just beginning.”
Graterol entered rehab in early May with hopes of returning after missing a significant part of last season following shoulder surgery. Unfortunately, he was sidelined again after just four pitches on May 12 due to a “flare-up” in his back, as noted by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
He found himself on the 60-day injured list shortly after. General manager Brandon Gomez mentioned surgery as a possible next step for the 27-year-old right-hander, but the team preferred to “exhaust all options” first. “He worked really hard [to try and come back],” Gomez remarked.
Now, with surgery complete, Graterol is essentially back at the starting line. Though his status for the remainder of the season remains unclear, it’s likely that this surgery will extend his timeline for a return.
Earlier this month, Roberts hinted that recovery would be a gradual process for Graterol, saying, “Unfortunately, it’s going to be a slow program for him for a while.” Over six MLB seasons, Graterol has maintained a career ERA of 2.78 and last pitched in the majors during the 2024 postseason, contributing to the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series victories.
He underwent labrum surgery in November, which initially sidelined him through the first half of the 2025 season. His shoulder, unfortunately, didn’t heal as quickly as hoped, leading him to miss all of last season while on injured reserve.
This spring, Graterol struggled to regain his fastball velocity, averaging below 95 mph during camp. Although he started the season on the injured list, he felt optimistic about his return as spring training wrapped up. However, everything changed during his outing on May 12 when lower back pain impacted his performance.
Now, he’s once again confronted with the daunting prospect of surgical recovery and a long path to rehabilitation. The reality is daunting: another season on the sidelines looms before him.
