Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, according to a report by The Athletic on Sunday.
Grove suffered the injury during Game 2 of last season’s National League Division Series and missed the rest of the postseason.
Two weeks ago, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Grove would not be ready for Opening Day.
“Michael is certainly behind schedule. He’s working through some things,” Roberts said. “I don’t see any world where he’s ready for opening day. He’s got to build up.”
A second-round pick in 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017, Grove made his debut in 2022, pitching seven games (six starts) with a 4.60 ERA and 24 strikeouts.
However, Grove struggled in 2023 with a career-high 6.13 ERA across 18 games (12 starts). Primarily a starter, he transitioned to the bullpen.
Last season, he pitched in 39 games, including 37 relief appearances. He posted a 5.12 ERA, a 1.216 WHIP and 54 strikeouts.
Grove’s advanced metrics rate him higher than his basic statistics. Last season, he performed well in breaking run value (79th percentile), xERA (64th percentile), and xBA (74th percentile).
Grove’s slider is his best pitch, earning a +5 run value last season. His fastball has an average velocity of 94.1 miles per hour but had a run value of zero in 2024.
