The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without one of their hard-throwing relief pitchers for Opening Day of the 2025 season after he suffered a foot injury in camp.
Edgardo Henriquez had his left foot in a walking boot Tuesday, according to multiple reports from the team's spring training camp in Phoenix, Arizona. Manager Dave Roberts said the right-hander suffered a metatarsal injury and won't be ready for the start of the regular season.
The Dodgers are preparing to play the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.
Roberts declined to say how the injury took place.
Henriquez, 22, debuted with the Dodgers last year and allowed one run in three appearances late in the 2024 regular season. He made another three appearances in the postseason, allowing four runs in five innings.
Henriquez adds to a list of injured relievers for the defending World Series champions, which already included right-handers Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips.
Henriquez's rise through the Dodgers' minor league system was breathtaking, as he pitched at all four levels of the organizational ladder in 2024 before reaching the majors.
Prior to his Sept. 24 debut, Henriquez threw 53 innings with an ERA of 2.72 in the minors. He struck out 88 batters and issued only 29 walks.
The Dodgers will also be without right-hander Michael Grove to start the season, robbing Roberts of four right-handed relief options when the new season begins.
Henriquez had appeared in three Cactus League games with the Dodgers, pitching a total of 3.1 innings. He allowed two hits and one run, walked two batters and struck out five.
In his limited work last season, Henriquez's four-seamer touched 100.9 mph and averaged 98.7. He also threw a cutter that averaged just under 90 mph, giving the Dodgers a hard-throwing option late in games.
Absent Henriquez to start the season, his bullpen spot might go to non-roster invitee Giovanny Gallegos, or to a former starter like Landon Knack, Tony Gonsolin, or Dustin May.
The Dodgers' payroll outlay was already up to $399.8 million for competitive balance tax purposes in 2025 - a record - after they signed free agent relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to join a talented bullpen.
Now, however, it would not be surprising if they brought in a veteran free agent to compete for a bullpen job depending on the severity of Henriquez's injury.
