Michael Grove Keeping an Open Mind Regarding Role for LA

Sometimes getting a new role within a team can be the best thing for your career. This applies to most jobs and fields, with baseball being no different. Dodgers pitcher Michael Grove has seen his 2023 season go up and down. It hasn't gone how he would have hoped, especially after making the Opening Day roster. But the young pitcher isn't letting that get him down.

On the year, Grove has appeared in eight game for the Dodgers and has started six of them. He holds an ERA of 7.59 and has 31 strikeouts over 32 innings of work. It hasn't exactly been the start that he had hoped but he does still have effective stuff out on the mound. So the team hasn't ruled out moving him to more of a relief option as the season goes on. Grove himself spoke on this possible idea.

“I can’t even, like, wrap my head around it,” Grove said. “I’ll do whatever we need to do to win.”

Per The Athletic

Now, this is the correct mindset for Grove to have. It's what will keep him up with the big league club if he can perform during the relief appearances that he is given. He won't have to exhaust himself over the course of a game and can dominant over an inning or two at a time. 

It makes perfect sense for a player like Grove and he could carve out a solid spot in the bullpen for himself if he can produce. The Dodgers could use the help in the bullpen after the struggles that they have seen this season. Grove knows that being more of a relief pitcher is different from a starter but his openness bolds well for him.

“These guys go through it, huh? That back of the bullpen, building a sweat and then the gates open,” Grove said later. “It’s definitely a rush. Something I’ve never experienced before.”

Per The Athletic

It seems that Grove will be used in a relief role more going forward. With the Dodgers having other options to start games, it makes all the sense. Grove can still produce for the club and help them win games, albeit in a different manner that even he ever expected.