When Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman declined to make 34-year-old free agent right-handed closer Kenley Jansen an offer to return to the team for a 13th consecutive season, the Dodgers lost two things:

• One of the best closers not only in Dodgers history, but in baseball history;
• The guy with the indisputable single best cut fastball (cutter) in the game.

…or did they?

While it is impossible to argue that Jansen was (and hopefully still is, albeit now with the Atlanta Braves) one of the best closers in the game, it was revealed by Dodgers broadcaster Tim Neverett during the Dodgers 12-1 pounding of the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night at Goodyear Ballpark that before leaving the Dodgers, Jansen taught his famed cutter to 23-year-old Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol.

According to Neverett, Jansen “left behind instructions” for the Calabozo, Venezuela native on how to grip and throw the famous cut fastball that earned Jansen three All-Star selections, two Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year trophies, and a World Series ring in 2020.

Graterol, who was acquired by the Dodgers on February 10, 2020, along with Luke Raley and future considerations for infielder Jair Camargo, right-hander Kenta Maeda, and cash, blazed his way through the Dodgers minor league system, making his Major League debut on September 1, 2019 … at 21 years of age. In his thus far two Major League seasons with the Dodgers, he is 4-2 with a 3.97 ERA in his 57 games (three starts) in Dodger Blue.

During Wednesday night’s shellacking of the Guardians, Graterol pitched two-thirds of an inning without allowing either of his two inherited runners to score, while striking out one. On the Spring, he is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA, having allowed only one hit, no walks, and three strikeouts in his 3.2 Spring Training innings pitched.

Although Graterol’s role coming out of Spring Training remains unknown, he will most likely be used out of the Dodgers bullpen; perhaps in long-relief situations.

Then again, if he can master that cutter shown to him by Kenley Jansen, don’t be surprised to hear Graterol being called ‘Calabozo Love,’ with Jansen having been popularly known as ‘California Love.’

Play Ball!

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