PHOENIX — Brusdar Graterol’s return to the mound will have to wait a little longer.
After missing all of last season recovering from a shoulder surgery, the hard-throwing Dodgers reliever is not expected to be ready for Opening Day this year, manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday.
Though Graterol came into spring training hopeful of returning for the start of the new season, Roberts said the right-hander will be on a slower progression as he ramps up in the coming weeks, after he struggled to dial up his velocity in some early throwing session in camp.
“With Brusdar, he’s shown that we can count on him when he’s needed in the biggest of spots,” Roberts said. “We just got to get him back up to that velocity. It’s an intentionally slow build-up.”
Graterol — who has a 2.78 career ERA — becomes the Dodgers’ latest right-handed reliever expected to be sidelined at the beginning of the year.
Brock Stewart is still working his way back from a shoulder surgery he underwent in September. Evan Phillips isn’t expected back until midseason as he completes his recovery from last year’s Tommy John surgery.
Their absences could create opportunities for younger right-handers including Will Klein and Edgardo Henriquez, who are trying to parlay their success in last year’s playoffs into more permanent roles in the team’s big-league bullpen.
