BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 05: A general view of the Los Angeles Dodgers logo on an equipment bag in the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 5, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have built enough pitching depth to withstand a number of injuries over the past several seasons. That depth has been tested again in 2026, and one veteran reliever now appears likely to miss significantly more time than originally expected.
Brusdar Graterol has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen since arriving from the Minnesota Twins as part of the 2020 trade that sent Kenta Maeda to Minnesota. Over five-plus seasons with Los Angeles, Graterol developed into one of manager Dave Roberts' favorite late-inning options when he’s available, helping the club capture World Series championships in 2020 and 2024.
Now, however, the hard-throwing right-hander is facing another lengthy recovery process.
According to an Instagram story posted by the pitcher, Graterol recently underwent back surgery after suffering a new injury while attempting to work his way back to the major leagues.
"The Dodgers reliever underwent surgery for a recent back injury he suffered while on a minor-league rehab assignment earlier this month, multiple sources confirmed to The California Post after Graterol posted about the operation on Instagram,” Jack Harris reported, following that post. “It leaves Graterol facing another long-term recovery process, putting his chances of returning this season in jeopardy, sources said.”
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The setback is particularly frustrating because Graterol was already working his way back from shoulder surgery that limited him to just seven appearances during the 2025 season. The 26-year-old has compiled a 2.78 career ERA across 188 major league appearances.
Graterol appeared optimistic in his Instagram post despite the latest setback, sharing photos from the hospital and thanking supporters as he began the recovery process.
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Graterol's absence removes another experienced arm from a bullpen that has already relied heavily on its organizational depth. While the Dodgers remain among baseball's most talented teams, the loss of a reliever who owns a career 1.85 ERA across 25 postseason games represents another challenge for a club with championship aspirations.
For Graterol, the focus now shifts away from helping the Dodgers defend their title and back toward rehabilitation. Based on the latest reporting, simply returning to a major league mound before the end of the season is no longer a certainty.
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