Dodgers’ Season Takes a Hit as Brock Stewart Requires Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
SEATTLE — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ hopes of bolstering their struggling bullpen took a significant blow on Friday, as manager Dave Roberts announced that newly acquired pitcher Brock Stewart will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. This development comes as a worst-case scenario for the team, which had traded for Stewart at the deadline with the aim of strengthening their relief pitching.
Stewart’s injury concerns had been a topic of discussion for some time, with the pitcher experiencing residual soreness even after completing a minor-league rehab stint for a shoulder problem that had kept him out since early August. Following a meeting with head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, it was decided that surgery would be the best course of action. According to general manager Brandon Gomes, Stewart will undergo a debridement procedure, which should allow him to pitch for the majority of next season.
Impact on the Dodgers’ Bullpen
The loss of Stewart is a significant setback for the Dodgers, who had been counting on him to provide experienced stability to their bullpen. With a 2.38 ERA for the Minnesota Twins this season, Stewart’s acquisition had been seen as a high-upside play. However, his absence now leaves the team with another hole to fill, particularly in their right-handed relief hierarchy. The Dodgers will have to rely on other options, including longtime stalwart Blake Treinen, hard-throwing rookie Edgardo Henriquez, and rookie Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who recently returned from a nearly five-month shoulder injury.
Another potential option for the Dodgers is starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, who may be shifted to a multi-inning relief role out of the bullpen come the postseason. Despite these alternatives, Stewart’s absence will still be felt, and the team will need to find a way to compensate for the loss of his pitching skills.
A History of Shoulder Problems
Unfortunately, shoulder problems are nothing new for Stewart, who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August of last season after making just 16 appearances for the Twins. While this latest injury is not believed to be directly related to last year’s issue, Gomes acknowledged that “any time you’re taking on a pitcher, we understand that there are risks.” The Dodgers had taken a calculated risk in trading for Stewart, but his injury has ultimately left them without the significant deadline addition they had hoped for.
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