7 Dodgers Pitchers Open 2024 Season on Injured List

No players suffered serious injuries in spring training, at least.

The Dodgers managed to avoid any major injuries during spring training. Nonetheless they placed seven players, all pitchers, on the injured list to begin the regular season when Opening Day rosters were revealed late Tuesday.

Walker Buehler, Brusdar Graterol, Emmet Sheehan and Blake Treinen will begin the season on the 15-day injured list. They won't play in Korea, but are eligible to return soon after the team returns to the U.S., on April 4.

Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are on the 60-day injured list. Each pitcher had major surgery last year and none of their IL placements came as a surprise.

Treinen was struck in the chest by a comebacker during a Cactus League game and hasn't pitched since March 9. Afterward, he was diagnosed with a bruised lung. 

Although the injury wasn't serious, the Dodgers erred on the side of caution. Treinen is expected to be ready for the domestic opener.

Graterol has been bothered by shoulder inflammation and only appeared in one Cactus League game, throwing a scoreless inning on March 2. He's reportedly been dealing with a hip issue as well.  

Sheehan had been dealing with shoulder soreness, but was placed on the IL with "forearm inflammation." According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Sheehan had been dealing with both injuries in March:

I’m told this isn’t a new injury for Emmet Sheehan, who has started facing hitters again. https://t.co/mn20SJvDTK

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 20, 2024

The injuries to Graterol and Treinen opened a door for relievers Kyle Hurt and Gus Varland to make their first-ever Opening Day rosters and be in the Dodgers' bullpen this week for the Seoul Series.

The Dodgers will also have Michael Grove and Landon Knack in the bullpen for the two games, though both could begin the season as starting pitchers at Triple-A.

Bobby Miller, James Paxton and Gavin Stone will be the number-3, -4 and -5 starters to begin the season but won't join the active roster until the Dodgers return to California.