Brusdar

Graterol

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters earlier this week that Graterol hasn’t been bouncing back well from recent throwing sessions and the club wants to take a longer-term approach with his rehabilitation. There is no timetable for his return at the moment. The hard-throwing 25-year-old righty has been out since spring training due to right shoulder inflammation.

The procedural move opens up a spot on Los Angeles’ 40-man roster for newly-acquired lefty Nick Ramirez. Graterol landed on the injured list last month with right shoulder inflammation and will now be sidelined until at least mid-May. The hard-throwing high-leverage specialist resumed throwing earlier this week and should be ready to return when first eligible to return.

Graterol told reporters he feels “great” as he continues to progress from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the early portion of the season. He’ll likely need several bullpen sessions before he’s ready to return, but a good showing Tuesday — and likely another one in the following days — could see Grateron begin a rehab assignment shortly after.

Blake Treinen suffered a lung contusion after being hit by a comebacker and Graterol threw just one Cactus League game while battling hip tightness and shoulder soreness. In the meantime, the Dodgers will rely on Joe Kelly, Daniel Hudson, and Ryan Brasier to get the ball to Evan Phillips.

This one doesn’t come as a surprise, as the Dodgers had already announced that Graterol would miss the Seoul Series due to the shoulder issue. Expect him to be ready to return to the Dodgers’ bullpen in early April.

Graterol has thrown in one Cactus League game this spring after experiencing hip tightness and shoulder soreness. He said he remains hopeful that he will be ready for the domestic opener against the Cardinals on March 28. Joe Kelly or Ryan Brasier will likely pitch in the later innings, with Evan Phillips getting the call for the ninth while Graterol is out.

Graterol was arbitration-eligible this winter for the first time. The hard-throwing 25-year-old high-leverage reliever finished last year with a career-high seven saves to accompany a sublime 1.20 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 48/12 K/BB ratio across 67 1/3 innings (68 appearances).

It wasn’t the smoothest of innings for the 25-year-old right-hander, as he allowed a leadoff walk to Ozzie Albies and a two-out single to Matt Olson, but he battled back to strike out Marcell Ozuna to end the ballgame. Graterol has been outstanding for the Dodgers this season — registering a 1.38 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 43/11 K/BB ratio across 58 2/3 innings of work to go along with seven saves in eight chances.

After Evan Phillips came on and closed out the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts turned to Graterol to finish off the nightcap. It wasn’t the smoothest of innings — as he allowed a leadoff single to Jake Burger and a two-out single to Avisail Garcia — but he battled back to get Jesus Sanchez to ground out to third to end it. The 24-year-old hurler has been terrific this season, compiling a minuscule 1.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 38/9 K/BB ratio over 53 frames.

Graterol came on to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after the Dodgers pulled ahead in the eighth inning, needing just 13 pitches (nine strikes) to slam the door. The hard-throwing righty presumably got the call with Evan Phillips unavailable after tallying saves each of the two previous contests for Los Angeles.