Dodgers Pitcher Brusdar Graterol Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Out Until Second Half of 2025

Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol announced on his Spanish-language X post that he underwent shoulder surgery yesterday. The team later confirmed that Graterol had surgery to repair his right shoulder labrum and is not expected to return until the second half of the 2025 season.

The news is not entirely surprising given Graterol's injury-plagued 2024 season, primarily due to persistent shoulder issues. He started the season on the injured list with hip tightness and right shoulder inflammation, which sidelined him until August. In his first game back, Graterol suffered a right hamstring strain, forcing another stint on the IL. Though he was briefly reactivated in September, he returned to the IL due to renewed shoulder inflammation. He missed most of the postseason but managed to return for the World Series.

Graterol's 2024 season was limited to just 7 1/3 innings in the regular season and 2 1/3 innings in the World Series. Despite his efforts to contribute, his persistent shoulder issues ultimately necessitated surgical intervention.

Prior to 2024, Graterol was a key component of the Dodgers' bullpen, posting a 2.69 ERA over 171 appearances from 2020 to 2023. Though his strikeout rate of 18.9% was below average, his impressive 5.5% walk rate and elite 62.5% ground ball rate made him an effective reliever. Among pitchers with at least 170 innings pitched during that period, only Clay Holmes, Andre Pallante, and Framber Valdez had better ground ball rates.

Although Graterol played a role in the Dodgers' World Series victory, 2024 was largely a lost season for him. With at least half of 2025 projected to be missed, his path to arbitration will be affected. He earned $2.7 million this year, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a similar figure for 2025. Graterol's potential salary increase in 2026 will depend on his recovery timeline and performance once he returns to the mound.

​The Dodgers and their fans will be hoping for a full recovery for Graterol as they navigate the challenges ahead.