Dodgers News: Fernando Valenzuela passes away, World Series injury updates

In early October, the Dodgers announced that franchise icon and longtime Spanish-language color commentator for Sports Net LA Fernando Valenzuela would be stepping away from the broadcast booth to focus on his health. They added that though both Valenzuela and the team were optimistic that he would return for the 2025 season, his health issue remained unspecified following news of a sudden hospitalization.

On Tuesday night, they announced Valenzuela's passing.

Valenzuela was the eponymous hero of "Fernandomania" that swept Dodgers fandom in 1981, his rookie season. At just 20 years old, he pitched eight consecutive complete games, five of which were shutouts, and he became the first and so far only player to win a Rookie of the Year and Cy Young award in the same season.

He also helped bridge the gap between the Dodgers and LA's Mexican population and diversify what had been a mostly white fanbase following the franchise's move to LA in 1958.

The Dodgers retired No. 34 in his honor last year, bucking a tradition that dictated numbers only be retired if a player was inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Jim Gilliam as the only other Dodger in that bucket.

Valenzuela was 63, and he'll be profoundly missed by the Dodgers organization and fans.

Dodgers News: Franchise icon Fernando Valenzuela passes away; Miguel Rojas, Alex Vesia, Brusdar Graterol injury updates

The Dodgers have two more days to lock down the World Series roster that will hopefully carry them to the franchise's eighth title, but they haven't been able to escape injuries all season long, so there's no reason they should start avoiding them now, right?

Alex Vesia appeared in the NLDS against the Padres, but sat out of the LCS with an intercostal issue. Graterol has been out for basically the entire season — first with a shoulder issue, then with a hamstring strain, and then again with a shoulder issue — and he only managed to pitch 7 1/3 innings during the regular season. However, both have started throwing to live hitters, and the break between the LDS and LCS could be a blessing in disguise for the Dodgers, as both could be in the mix for the World Series.

Miguel Rojas also missed out on the LCS with a torn adductor and is "making strides," per Dave Roberts, but his presence on the World Series roster isn't guaranteed. Gavin Lux's presence does seem assured, though; he only played in two LCS games as he dealt with hip tightness and a hamstring issue, but Roberts said he expects Lux to be ready for the World Series.

Freddie Freeman, who rolled his ankle at the end of the regular season and missed Games 4 and 6 of the LCS, also said he was a "100% go" for Game 1 of the World Series.