The Los Angeles Dodgers are now into the second week of their Cactus League schedule, yet the likes of Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly, Brandon Morrow and David Price have yet to appear in a game.
That should change for Price on Monday as he’s scheduled to follow Julio Urias at some point against the Chicago White Sox. Meanwhile, Graterol will eventually find his way into a Spring Training, but Kelly could very well begin the season on the 10-day injured list.
“Brusdar is ahead of Joe right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think Brusdar is in a pretty good spot although he started a little bit later. Joe is a ways away.”
Roberts downplayed concern over time running short for Graterol and Kelly to properly ramp up for the regular season. “It makes it a lot easier to see them early on in the season as one-inning guys,” he explained.
“Everyone is different, but to be in a handful of games is probably a floor.”
Unspecified circumstances prevented Graterol from throwing during the offseason and thus he reported to camp behind other pitchers in that progression.
Kelly has been battling soreness and potentially some form of injury since playing catch during the first workout for pitchers and catchers. “Joe Kelly is still coming back. He’s not quite there yet, but it’s nothing like a setback or anything like that,” Roberts said at the time.
“There was just a little bit of playing catch and his arm got sore on him, so we just want to make sure that we sort of nip it right now. Nothing of real relevance, I just want to be honest.”
Kelly resumed playing catch one week later but then missed a day of workouts due to falling ill, and he’s been unable to get back on track since.
When asked if he would commit to Kelly making the Opening Day roster or not, Roberts declined to side with either possibility.
Santana could benefit from Kelly’s situation
While there is some question as to whether or not Kelly makes the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, that could wind up looming large for Dennis Santana. He has continued to impress out of the bullpen and is a reliever Roberts said the team trusts to face left- and right-handed batters.
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