GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brusdar Graterol’s fastball (an average of 99.5 mph last season, third in MLB) and nickname (he prefers“Bazooka” though he will also accept “Buffalo”) scream “closer.”
It’s a role Graterol would gladly fill for the Dodgers – “If they give me the opportunity, yeah, absolutely,” he said through an interpreter.But that isn’t his sole focus. In fact, the 23-year-old Venezuelan would like to go back to starting someday.
“That’s one of my immediate goals, to be a closer,” he said. “But if the opportunity presents itself to be a starter again I would be open to that opportunity.
“Yes, absolutely (I miss being a starter). It’s something where I feel I’m engaged in the whole game from beginning to end and just because I’m going to be able to pitch a lot more. As opposed to a closer where I’m only going to pitch one inning and I’m out.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said he will not lean on one pitcher this season to handle the one inning Kenley Jansen pitched most frequently in previous years. Graterol is just one candidate to get the ninth-inning call along with veterans Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson (and Tommy Kahnle when he returns from Tommy John rehab).
But Treinen has no doubt Graterol has the potential to be a full-time closer.
“Yes, he does,” Treinen said. “I just think he’ll be ready good. It’s whatever he ends up putting into it, the ability to refine his craft because he’ll be extremely good for us right now and he’ll have a good year with what he has. But if he’s able to develop … one more pitch, one of two or three different pitches it will be incredible. You’ll see his swing-and-miss go through the roof.
“Just his fastball is an above-average big-league reliever – with just the fastball. So if he adds something to that, it’s going to be special.”
Graterol is well aware of that. Last July, he was sent down to Triple-A after a rough start to the season and Roberts called him “not a finished product.” Toward that end, Graterol has been working on adding a cut fastball to his pitch mix.
“I wanted to learn how to throw the cutter (last season),” Graterol said. “I asked Kenley about it. I worked with Kershaw. I worked with Buehler. But mainly it was with Kenley because he was in the bullpen.
“I think a lot of the pitches that I’m adding on have helped me with the strikeouts.”
That has been one part of Graterol’s game that has not been closer-like. He has averaged just 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings in this early part of his career.
“He’s extremely blessed by God. He will have a phenomenal career,” Treinen said. “He’s got to stay healthy. He’s got to stay humble – which he has no problem with. And refine his craft which is the biggest thing in this game. … He is so close to taking that next step and I think we’ll see it this year.”
SPEED THRILLS
Spending most of his time as a leadoff hitter, Trea Turner has stolen 203 bases over the first seven years of his career including a National League-leading 32 last season. But – at least to start the 2022 season – Roberts plans to bat Turner third behind Freddie Freeman.
The alignment has the potential to cut down on Turner’s opportunities to use his speed. But Roberts said “it shouldn’t” muffle that aspect of Turner’s game.
“I don’t think Freddie is a (base) clogger,” Roberts said. “Could Trea steal 40, 50 bases? Sure. I don’t know if that’s the best thing for him or for us. I think there’s going to be plenty of opportunities to have Trea on base when Freddie is not on base in front of him. I don’t think it’s going to affect him or his dynamic ability or the roster and our potential to score runs.”
BICK WAIT
Reliever Phil Bickford has thrown a live batting practice session but has yet to pitch in a game this spring. Roberts said Bickford “got a late ramp up” after some arm soreness before camp opened.
“He is healthy. But he just hadn’t pitched before camp started much,” Roberts said.
“I think there was some arm soreness but I wouldn’t say injury. So I think before camp he shut himself down.”
Roberts said Bickford is not likely to be ready to be part of the Dodgers’ season-opening bullpen.
Claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers last May, Bickford emerged as a valuable part of last season’s bullpen, posting a 2.50 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 56 appearances with the Dodgers.
KAHNLE PROGRESS
Kahnle threw his second live batting practice session Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch in a game for the first time since Tommy John surgery on Saturday. Kahnle acknowledged that he won’t be ready to open the season in the Dodgers’ bullpen and instead will spend April going through the equivalent of “a full spring training,” most likely pitching for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“It definitely took longer than expected,” said Kahnle, who had his elbow surgery in August 2020. “I knew coming into it that everybody is different. … It’s been one helluva long trip, that’s for sure.”
ALSO
The Dodgers made two more cuts Tuesday, sending utilitymen Zach McKinstry and Andy Burns to minor-league camp. Forty-one players remain in big-league camp.
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