Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Michael Grove is among the relief pitchers who is behind in camp and unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster.
“He’s working through some things. Yeah, I don’t see any world where he’s ready for Opening Day,” Roberts said on Tuesday. “He’s got to build up. Yeah, he’s behind. He’s behind.”
Grove may not have been an obvious candidate to start the season in the Dodgers bullpen, but multiple injuries at least allowed for the possibility if he was healthy.
Grove’s 2024 season came to an end when he was replaced by Ben Casparius on the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series because of a right shoulder injury.
“There’s a shoulder thing that he’s been dealing with for quite some time. And so the recovery is not good. Inflammation, probably more to that,” Roberts said at the time.
“I’m sure he’ll get a scan. So we understand the cost of the next round, not being available. So Ben Casparius is going to be active. Michael is extremely disappointed, and rightfully so.”
Grove was a bit of a surprising inclusion on the Dodgers’ playoff roster, but it was an opportunity he received in large part because Joe Kelly suffered a right shoulder injury himself during workouts.
Grove’s lone appearance in the NLDS came in Game 2, when he allowed one run home run and retired just one batter in the Dodgers’ blowout loss.
Grove dealt with a right intercostal strain last season that resulted in spending nearly two months on the injured list. He logged 51 innings over 39 appearances (two starts), pitching to a 5.12 ERA, 3.87 FIP and 1.22 WHIP.
The Dodgers did not provide any further information on Grove’s injury or recovery during the offseason.
Michael Grove & more Dodgers injuries
While Grove avoided surgery before Spring Training, that was not the case for Brusdar Graterol. As a result, Graterol is not expected to pitch until the second half of the 2025 season.
Furthermore, Evan Phillips (tear in back of right rotator cuff) and Michael Kopech (right forearm inflammation) are expected to begin the season on the injured list as well.
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