ST. LOUIS -- Righty reliever Brusdar Graterol's long road back to the Dodgers is nearing an end.
Graterol began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday. When the 27-year-old right-hander makes it into his first game, it will mark the first time he's pitched in an affiliated game since Oct. 30, 2024 -- Game 5 of the World Series vs. the Yankees, when the Dodgers clinched the first of their eventual back-to-back championships.
"It seems like the last few years, it's been like a rehab situation," manager Dave Roberts said. "So for him to kind of get out of that mode and get to being a regular player competing, and get the health behind him, we're all looking forward to that."
Graterol underwent right shoulder labrum surgery in November 2024, and although he remained a distant possibility to return in '25, he was unable to fully ramp up by season's end. He had been expected to be fully healthy at the beginning of Spring Training this year, but his velocity was down in early bullpen sessions, leading the Dodgers to slow-play his ramp-up and ultimately place him on the 15-day injured list to begin the season.
Graterol has a 2.69 ERA in 178 appearances across five seasons as a Dodger, but he has not pitched much over the past few years. Since the beginning of 2024, shoulder and hamstring injuries have limited him to just 10 appearances (seven in the regular season and three in the postseason). Graterol will be a free agent for the first time after this season, so while having him back in the bullpen should be a boost for the Dodgers' three-peat bid, his return is also important for his own future outlook.
Pitchers can remain on a rehab assignment for up to 30 days, and Graterol is likely to spend close to the maximum amount of time with Oklahoma City as he builds his arm back up.
"He hasn't pitched a whole lot in the last two years, three years," Roberts said. "So his buildup needs to be methodical."
Graterol is just one of several right-handed leverage reinforcements the Dodgers are looking forward to getting back this year. Brock Stewart (right shoulder debridement surgery), who is near the end of his own rehab assignment with the Comets, is on track to be activated in the next week or two. Graterol is now lined up to return to L.A. in early June. Evan Phillips (Tommy John surgery) has a longer way to go, as he is expected to complete his rehab after the All-Star break.