The Los Angeles Dodgers have started the season with a 10-3 record, which is good for best winning percentage in the Majors. Their success has come despite multiple injuries and the recent placement of Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list.
Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández, Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol all started this spring behind schedule and did not participate in any Cactus League games. Gavin Stone made one appearance before his buildup was halted by right shoulder inflammation.
Meanwhile, Betts was the first in-season casualty of 2026. He was placed on the IL April 5 with a right oblique strain.
The condition of the aforementioned six players is mostly trending in a positive direction, with the exception of Stone.
Dodgers updates
Mookie Betts
Betts is staying active while he waits to make a full recovery. The 33-year-old only feels pain when performing specific movements, so he has been limited to fielding ground balls without moving side to side.
“Yeah, and I think the main thing with Mookie is that he’s symptom-free, so he feels good and he’s not feeling anything,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
While there is a sense of optimism in the building regarding Betts’ condition, his recovery is expected to take longer than 10 days.
“I would say no. I would take the over on that one,” Roberts said. He previously suggested a return would come before the typical timeline for an oblique injury of four to six weeks.
Tommy Edman
The Dodgers have been monitoring Edman closely as he recovers from offseason right ankle surgery. Edman has made it clear he does not want to force himself back into action until being fully healthy.
His current day-to-day includes taking on-field batting practice and ramping up his running program. The progress has been promising, but the 30-year-old is still a ways away from advancing to high-intensity.
“It’s coming,” Roberts said. “I don’t really know the percentage, but he’s a ways from running full speed. And then also, I think that when you’re coming back from surgery, the next part is the recovery.
“And so even still being able to run to full speed, when he gets that point, to still be ensuing the next couple days after to feel no symptoms, that’s the thing that we haven’t really got to yet.”
The team projects Edman to return in late May.
Kiké Hernández
Hernández is progressing at a similar pace to Edman, but is further along at this point.
“Nothing new. I think that they’ve sort of been progressing steadily,” Roberts said of the pair. “I say Kiké looks further along than Tommy. They’re both progressing, though.”
The 34-year-old began the season on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from left elbow surgery he underwent in the offseason. The initial belief was Hernández would return around the midseason point. However, he took a major step toward his return at the end of March, which is why he’s further along than Edman.
Brock Stewart
Stewart has been ahead of schedule for some time now, to the point that he faced Alex Call and Dalton Rushing in a live batting practice session at Dodger Stadium at the end of March.
The right-hander completed another live BP session this week and is nearly prepared to go out on a rehab assignment.
“So he’s progressing. We can get a couple more of those, and then I think he would probably go out on assignment,” Roberts said.
Stewart remains the furthest along of any of the Dodgers’ injured pitchers.
Brusdar Graterol
Graterol has struggled to get on the field in the past three years. He once again started the season behind schedule amid a stagnant recovery from right shoulder surgery.
“He is throwing. He’s throwing ‘pens, and the velocity has really ticked up, and feels good,” Roberts said.
It’s worth noting the team has been down this path before over the past three years. The right-hander has not made a professional appearance since 2024, so that will be a better measure of Graterol’s future availability.
Gavin Stone
The long-awaited return of Stone to the active roster was put on hold before it could get started in earnest.
The good news with the 27-year-old’s setback was his shoulder had no structural damage and just required rest.
He has been able to resume throwing without feeling any pain, but has been progressing slowly. He seems to be a ways away from being able to advance further in his rehab.
“Stoney, it’s slow. I’m not sure where Gavin is at,” Roberts said.
A return sometime in May no longer seems feasible given this latest news.
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