Graterol’s fastball is one of the best in baseball. But the young reliever is working to add secondary pitches like a cutter and slider.
Pitcher Brusdar Graterol #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait during MLB photo day at Camelback Ranch on February 22, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. Over the past three seasons, its average velocity has been between 98.8 mph and 99.5 mph . Last year , it was the sixth-highest average velocity in the majors. Graterol is the only pitcher to rank sixth or higher in fastball velocity each of the past three years.
Graterol’s best secondary pitch has been a cutter he started throwing in 2021 – and it is a legacy pitch in the Dodgers bullpen. Graterol was first introduced to the cutter by former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen who rode his version of the pitch to the franchise saves record. “There’s a velocity differential that we’re looking for,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “When he’s on the mound, everything is hard. So if you can have something to slow the hitter down and get them off the fastball and cutter, it’s just upside.Graterol has thrown a slider since coming to the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2019. But he has de-emphasized it with the Dodgers and threw it a career-low 18 percent of the time last season.
Armed with his 100-mph fastball and an arsenal that includes an effective cutter and breaking ball, Graterol’s surprisingly low strikeout rate would no doubt increase – and he would profile as the quintessential closer, a role Graterol has said in the past he would like to fill some day. There is a vacancy there in this year’s version of the Dodgers bullpen but Graterol said he is not focused on that.
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