The Los Angeles Dodgers figure to welcome back Brock Stewart and Blake Snell this month, and both pitchers are scheduled to take the mound Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City in their respective rehab assignments.
Also with the Comets is Brusar Graterol, who somewhat surprisingly began his rehab assignment on Saturday night. Graterol retired the side in order in the fourth inning on just eight pitches. He induced two groundouts and struck out one batter.
Graterol’s appearance was part of a bullpen game by Oklahoma City in their 7-6 win over the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers affiliate). It also represented Graterol’s first time pitching in a formal game since his appearance in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
That came at the end of what was an injury-plagued year that’s since been followed by more health issues. Graterol ultimately had right shoulder surgery in November 2024 and has endured multiple setbacks during the rehab process.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the 27-year-old was expected to be a full participant at the outset of Spring Training, but Graterol had issues when throwing and it caused a delay in his preparation.
“He is throwing. He’s throwing ‘pens, and the velocity has really ticked up, and feels good,” manager Dave Roberts said in April.
There otherwise had not been much of an update on Graterol’s progress until it was announced on Saturday he had reported to the Oklahoma City affiliate.
What’s next for Brusdar Graterol?
Pitchers can spend up to 30 days on a rehab assignment, and the Dodgers figure to fully exhaust that period with Graterol considering how much time he’s missed.
His progression will include reducing the number of rest days between appearances before eventually pitching on back-to-back days as one of the final barometers to clear.
Graterol owns a 10-8 record with a 2.69 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 1.03 WHIP over 181 innings pitched in 178 games (five starts) in parts of five seasons with the Dodgers. His best year came in 2023, when Graterol sported a 1.20 ERA across 67.1 innings.
Graterol and the Dodgers avoided arbitration for the 2026 season by agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million contract. He’s on track to become a free agent this winter, which makes getting back and proving to be healthy all the more imperative.
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