Dodgers News: 2 Key Pitchers Will Miss Majority of 2025 Season
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without two key pitchers for a majority of next season.
Right-handers Brusdar Graterol and Emmett Sheehan both will not return until late into the season, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said during the Winter Meetings.
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Graterol dealt with shoulder inflammation and a right hamstring strain throughout the regular season, which limited him to only seven games. But, the Dodgers ultimately included the 26-year-old on the World Series roster.
The two-time World Series champion made three appearances in the Fall Classic against the New York Yankees. Across 2.1 innings, Graterol only allowed one hit and one run. Historically, Graterol has performed well in the postseason, preventing runs in three out of six postseasons.
Graterol had surgery in November to repair the torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. He is expected to return at some point in the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Sheehan will miss another large portion of next season after missing the entirety of the 2024 season. The Dodgers placed Sheehan on the injured list right before Opening Day. Then, the 25-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in May. The operation will keep Sheehan off the mound well into the 2025 season.
Sheehan has made 13 total MLB appearances with 11 starts. After the Dodgers drafted him in the sixth round in 2021, Sheehan made his MLB debut on June 16, 2023. Throughout his rookie season, the New York native accrued a 4-1 record while recording a 4.92 ERA and 64 strikeouts.
Although he has limited experience in the Major Leagues, a healthy Sheehan will be an impactful addition to the Dodgers rotation. In his last minor league season, he was a Double-A All-Star and TEX Postseason All-Star. Sheehan was also the TEX Pitcher of the Month in May 2023.
While Graterol and Sheehan will miss part of next season, injured relievers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia are expected to be healthy for Opening Day.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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This is not news. Sheehan, River Ryan, and Gavin Stone will compete for a spot on the six man rotation in 2026. But where will there be room for any of them? 2026 rotation without adding anybody else this off-season, except for Sasaki: Snell, Glasnow, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki (total 5), maybe Gonsolin, maybe May [neither under team control after 2024] Knack, Casperious, Wrobleski, Kyle Hurt, Kershaw [?] Bobby Miller [?] Jackson Ferris, then River Ryan, Sheehan, Gavin Stone. Did I list 17 names? Aren’t any of these going to be traded to get Luis Robert, Jr. before some of them are lost for nothing? How many starters can you carry on a 40 man roster? On the 26 man roster?
Yes I see your point, but are you suggesting the Dodgers have too much starting pitching? I’d bet on at least a few bullpen games.
My .02. Pitchers with elbow/shoulder injuries are common in today’s, but gawd, it seems like the Dodgers are head and shoulders above the rest. I feel like the Dodgers pitching coaches, trainers, player developers, ??? can get another 2-3MPH out of pitchers, only to have them go out with injuries by the all star break. I wonder if there’s been any thought to coaches who can teach players now not to get hurt?