Brusdar Graterol ‘Potentially’ Undergoing Back Surgery

Brusdar Graterol suffered another roadblock in his quest to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it seems like it may be one that sidelines him for a while.

Graterol began a rehab assignment at the start of May as he continues to recover from right shoulder surgery he underwent in November 2024. He has endured multiple setbacks related to that injury, and now he’s dealing with a back issue.

“Back flare up, we’re talking to the doctors and kind of seeing what the next steps are there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Graterol was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 17, which made room on the 40-man roster for Eric Lauer. Although moves to the 60-day are often more procedural than updates on player health, this move seems more closely related to the setback, given that he was already on a rehab assignment.

“So we’re going to shut him down for a while,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “I don’t know what the next course of action is. It’s going to be a slow program, unfortunately.”

The Dodgers have not yet determined whether Graterol’s back is a structural issue, and they are waiting to see what the doctors learn. However, surgery is on the table as a potential option for Graterol.

“Potentially,” Roberts answered when asked if Graterol will need surgery. “We’ve got to work through that. He’s worked really hard, so we’re trying to exhaust all measures here.”

Graterol has not pitched for the Dodgers since the 2024 World Series, and he was highly limited throughout 2024, appearing in only seven regular season games.

The 27-year-old made four appearances for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets before sustaining the back injury. He allowed three runs on four hits and walked three in 3.1 innings pitched.

The right-hander is set to become a free agent after the season.

Brusdar Graterol trying to remain positive

After suffering his latest injury, Graterol posted a motivational message and said he has not lost hope in eventually pitching for the Dodgers again.

Graterol’s message read, “Baseball is not easy but it’s no reason to give up. LFG.”

In the last two years, Graterol has dealt with a shoulder injury, hamstring injury and now a back issue.