Blake Treinen Recovering Slower Than Expected

The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 2024 season in South Korea against the San Diego Padres, but they were without some key members in their bullpen.

Brusdar Graterol was the first name left off the Dodgers travel roster due to right shoulder inflammation, and they are also without Blake Treinen for the Seoul Series.

Treinen was placed on the 15-day injured list with a bruised lung, which was the result of being struck by a comebacker during a Spring Training game on March 10.

Treinen made the trip to South Korea as the Dodgers hoped to have him on their Opening Day roster, but he has taken longer to progress than the team anticipated.

“Obviously we brought Blake in hopes that he’d be ready to go,” Dodggers manager Dave Roberts said. “He took a ball off the oblique and rib, and it’s just not progressing like we’d like. He’s playing catch still, slower program.

“So just adding another arm there. Obviously, Graterol didn’t travel with us, and some other pitchers that just weren’t going to be available.

“So we’ve got some guys, whether it be Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack to go multiples. And then we’ve got some other guys — (J.P.) Feyereisen, (Gus) Varland — to give us some innings if we need it.”

Treien underwent X-rays and a CT scan, and both came back negative. Although Treinen was able to avoid a fracture, he is still dealing with a bruised lung.

The right-hander collected two strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings across four Cactus League appearances.

He hasn’t been a fixture out of the Dodgers bullpen since the 2021 season due to right shoulder trouble, but there remains optimism Treinen can be a key contributor this year.

The Dodgers exercised their $1 million team option on Treinen for 2024, making him a high-reward, low-risk option on the roster.

Dodgers injuries: Walker Buehler progressing

Another right-hander working his way back to the Dodgers is Walker Buehler, who last pitched on last pitched for the team on June 10, 2022, before undergoing a second Tommy John surgery of his career.

Buehler has been rehabbing since, and with the Seoul Series underway, he shared a positive update on his fastball velocity and planned schedule moving forward.