The Los Angeles Dodgers brought back outfielder Teoscar Hernández from the injured list with a hamstring strain on Monday.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers optioned Ryan Ward to Triple-A.
Hernandez played a majority of the Dodgers’ games this season before going down with his injury at the end of May, and had been on a hot streak prior to his move to the IL. He had an .882 OPS in May, bringing his OPS on the season up to .785. On the year, he has seven homers and 31 RBIs.
The veteran had a successful rehab stint with the Oklahoma City Comets in Triple-A, playing in four games. Hernandez recorded three hits across those three games, all of which went over the fence for homers. He had three homers, six RBIs and a 1.170 OPS during his four-game stretch in the minors.
Hernandez’s next opportunity to feature for the Dodgers comes against the Athletics, who they will face on Monday for the first game of a three-game series.
What Does Hernandez’s Return Mean for the Rest of the Team?
Hernandez has exclusively played in left field for the Dodgers this season, which means he probably has that spot locked up for the time being. His presence has an odd domino effect on the rest of the squad, as Tommy Edman will command more playing time at second base—which then cuts into Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland’s playing time.
Alex Call will also be getting less of a look, as he split most of the time in the outfield with Ward while Hernandez rode the pine.
How Did Ryan Ward Perform in MLB?
Ward replaced Hernandez on the roster upon his injury, and got off to a solid start in his first game back. He hit a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies—the first of his MLB career.
Unfortunately, Ward couldn’t carry that momentum into June, as he struggled to reach base over the last week or so. This month, Ward batted .191 with an OPS of .673.
On the year, Ward is batting .218 with a .738 OPS. He has three homers and 12 RBIs on the year, crossing the plate eight times in total.
What do you think the Dodgers should do with Ryan Ward?
