Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol shades his teammates over White House visit in new post
The Los Angeles Dodgers visited President Donald Trump in the White House on Monday, but several players were absent - including Brusdar Graterol, who posted a cryptic Instagram Story
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol did not travel with the World Series champions for their meeting with Donald Trump - and he took a shot at the White House on social media.
On Monday, the Dodgers were welcomed by United States President Trump to the White House for the traditional champion reception. The team was in Washington D.C. to face the Nationals, losing 6-4 later in the afternoon.
The Dodgers clinched an eighth World Series championship with a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees in Game 5. Freddie Freeman was named the World Series MVP following his historic performance, homering in each of the first four games of the Series - including a walk-off Grand Slam - before driving in two runs with a clutch two-out single during Game 5.
While it’s an annual tradition for North American professional sports teams to go to the White House to celebrate their victory, several players missed out. Graterol was one of them, and he made his feelings clear about what the trip represented to him.
“In my brown house,” Graterol posted to his Instagram Story while smiling with his daughter. The post confirmed he missed the trip to the White House and seemed to take a shot at the visit.
The Dodgers reliever did not specify the reasons for his absence, nor did he explicitly say politics played a factor in him missing the D.C. trip. However, a handful of Dodgers from the 2024 World Series team were not in the team picture during their White House visit hosted by Trump.
It is not considered controversial or uncommon for players to miss the White House visit if they are injured. Freeman, who is recovering from an ankle injury, was not seen in any of the photos from the Dodgers’ trip.
Graterol is also recovering from an injury. He was placed on 60-day IL in March, so that may have been the reason he was absent - but he didn’t mention his health as the reason for his absence. Some of his injured Dodgers teammates attended the event regardless, including Michael Grove, Clayton Kershaw, Michael Kopech, and Gavin Stone.
The 26-year-old was limited to only seven appearances in the 2024 regular season due to shoulder and hamstring issues, but he returned in the playoffs. In the World Series, Graterol pitched in three games, allowing no runs and three hits over 2 1/3 innings with four walks and a strikeout.
In 2023, Graterol compiled a 1.20 ERA in 68 appearances, striking out 48 batters in 67 1/3 innings. He had a scoreless streak of 25 innings during the season.
Graterol has one more season of arbitration eligibility in 2025 before becoming an unrestricted free agent. His 9-3 Dodgers take on the 4-6 Nationals in their next game on Tuesday, April 8.