Dodgers Slugger Sets a Target Date for His Return from the Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is already a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Adding Teoscar Hernandez back into the mix might just make it unfair.

Hernandez is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The plan is for him to get four or five games in, and if everything goes well, the Dodgers could activate him before their series against the Athletics on June 29. Woo reported that the outfielder would start the assignment in Reno and that the club is optimistic about his timeline.

The 31-year-old went on the injured list in late May with a strained left hamstring. He took live batting practice last Thursday and felt good enough to push for game action. That is a positive sign for a player whose power bat has been sorely missed.

Before the injury, Hernandez was hitting .276 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs through 51 games. His track record is what makes this return so important. Outside of the shortened 2020 season, he has hit at least 20 home runs every year since 2018. Last season he hit .247 with 25 homers and 89 RBIs. He is not just a streaky hitter either. He has a history of producing in big moments and giving a lineup some real depth in the middle of the order.

The Dodgers will be careful with him. A setback is the worst thing that could happen right now. But the fact that he is ready to go on a rehab assignment tells you the hamstring is responding. The club has been using a mix of outfielders to fill the gap, but none of them offer the kind of consistent power Hernandez brings.

If he gets through these minor league games without any issues, Los Angeles gets a proven slugger back just in time for the summer stretch. That is a scary thought for the rest of the National League.