Dodgers’ Jason Heyward Provides Update on Injury, Has No Timetable for Return
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward is on the injured list with a back injury. Heyward, however, traveled with the team to Chicago, and spoke to reporters ahead of Friday’s game.
He provided an update on the injury, but didn’t have a timeline for return.
“Back is progressing nicely,” Heyward said. “I can’t give you a timeline. I don’t know when or what. That’s gonna be on the day-to-day, for sure.”
Heyward said the inconsistencies of his schedule (off against left-handed pitching, on against righties) made his back stiffen up.
“Those were the toughest,” Heyward said of the off-days. “A day where I had to prepare, be in the cage, be in the weight room a little bit, move around, get hot and cold a couple times definitely made it tougher for recovery. So it’s good to take the time now in April to get it right.”
Heyward said his back initially flared up ahead of the team’s final Freeway Series game, when he was scratched from the lineup. He said everything was normal until they had a long downtime before their batting practice.
“That downtime combined with travel that we’ve been doing,” Heyward said. “I didn’t play the day before, so it was another day of me kind of being down. I just think that’s what it is. It just stiffened up, starting cramping a little bit. That’s how strains go.”
Heyward said he was starting to feel a lot better when the Dodgers faced Lance Lynn on March 30, but the next day, when he was back on the bench against a lefty, his back stiffened up.
That’s when he decided to just go on the injured list.
“Part of my role is gonna be a bench guy and prepare to come off the bench in the right moment. And I need to be able to be healthy enough to do that. So right now, take the time to get it right.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t have an exact date for when Heyward will be able to return.
“What I was told is they’re gonna give him three days of no activity and then start ramping it up. So I don’t know if he’ll be available on that 11th day or not. Obviously when he’s ready to go and ready to play, he’ll be activated…
“But I don’t know when his return is.”
With Heyward on the injured list, the Dodgers claimed and added outfielder Taylor Trammell to the active roster. He’s yet to see game action, but should the next time the Dodgers face a lefty.
Trammell caught up with Dodgers Nation earlier this week, which you can read by clicking here.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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