March 5th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers traded soon-to-be 32-year-old right-hander Kenta Maeda to the Minnesota Twins on February 10, it was a sad day for Dodger fans. Not only was the Senboku-gun, Japan native a huge fan-favorite and extremely popular in the Dodgers clubhouse, he was also very effective on the mound, both as a starter and even more so as a reliever; a role that unfortunately he did not embrace.
The good news behind the deal is that in exchange for Maeda, the Dodgers welcomed 25-year-old utility infielder/outfielder and former farmhand Luke Raley back into the fold. They also received a 21-year-old young right-hander named Brusdar Graterol (and the 67th pick in the 2020 draft) in the deal.
Word had it that the young Calabozo, Venezuela native had a fastball that hovered around the century mark.
That word was accurate.
In his spring training debut with the Dodgers on February 29, all the 6′-1″ / 265-pound right-hander did in his one inning of work was retire Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, outfielder Charlie Blackmon, and perennial All-Star/Gold Glove/Silver Slugger third baseman Nolan Arenado in order, needing only 11 pitches to do so, of which six were strikes. Among those 11 pitches were a couple that did, in fact, hit 100 mph.
On Wednesday evening, Graterol made his second appearance of the Spring, this time against ‘The Hated Ones.’ In his one inning of work in the top of the ninth, Graterol faced four Giants batters, striking out two of them and allowing only a harmless single to minor league infielder/outfielder Joe McCarthy. This time Graterol needed 14 pitches (10 strikes), including two that registered 99 mph on the Camelback Ranch radar gun.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
Graterol made his MLB debut with the Twins on September 1, 2019 as a September call-up. He appeared in 10 regular-season games for Minnesota, all in relief, posting a 1-1 record and 4.66 ERA while striking out 10 of the 40 batters he faced. He also appeared in the eighth inning of Game-1 of the 2019 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, striking out two on 18 total pitches at a less-than-friendly Yankee Stadium.
“A guy with his stuff, it’s just a different look for our bullpen,” said new Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. “The ability to bring that kind of raw-power impact into the game is only a good thing for us.”
As for his performance in Wednesday night’s 4-0 shutout of the Giants, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was quite impressed with his hard-throwing young right-hander.
“It’s an easy – if you can say an easy – 98,” Roberts said with a smile. “There’s some late movement. The slider he can strike and shortens it when he needs to.
“What a find, and really a great young man,” added the Dodgers skipper.
Needless to say, if/when Dodgers All-Star closer Kenley Jansen needs an occasional blow, it’s hard to believe that Roberts would not hand the ball to Brusdar Graterol. I mean, wouldn’t you?
Play Ball!
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A month ago we were talking about if/when Kenley needed to be replaced. I reckon he’s been convincing.
I will be the first to admit that I was on the ‘Get Rid of Kenley’ bandwagon after his poor performance at the end of last season and into the postseason. HOWEVER, from what I have seen thus far this Spring, I am now on the ‘Keep Kenley’ bandwagon BIG time.
Not exactly sure what brought about the very noticeable change, but I LIKE it!
That being said, I can certainly see Graterol as the heir-apparent Dodgers closer down the road.
While I prefer to see Kenley be successful in spring training rather than not, in fact he’s tossing to a mix of major and minor league hitters while topping out at 92 – 93 mph. I’m ready to be convinced he can be very good in 2020, but am far from there atp.
I said in another thread that his swagger is what really has me thinking good thoughts. He just hasn’t looked that way for the last 1.5 years (since his most recent heart problem). He truly believes in himself now.
It look like, for a while, that Graterol was going to the Red Sox. It looks like that worked out good for the Dodgers.
Like what I see from both players so far,but I can’t say the same for Smith, he looks lost at the plate.