The Los Angeles Dodgers got their power-hitting outfielder back on Monday, and the first thing Teoscar Hernandez did was tell everyone he’s ready to hit. Which, based on what he did during his rehab stint in Triple-A, might be bad news for the rest of the National League.
Hernandez was activated from the 10-day injured list before the Dodgers opened a three-game set against the Athletics. He’d been out since May 29 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. To make room, the Dodgers sent Ryan Ward back to Oklahoma City.
When SportsNet LA caught up with him pregame, Hernandez didn’t dance around it. “I feel good, I feel ready. I feel that I can go there and produce for the team and help the team keep winning.” That’s the kind of blunt confidence you want from a guy who missed a full month.
And the numbers from his rehab assignment back it up. Across four games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Hernandez hit three two-run homers. That’s not just getting healthy. That’s sending a message that the hamstring is fine and the swing is back. For a guy who turns 33 this year, that pop doesn’t fade if the legs are right.
Before the injury, Hernandez was batting .276 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 51 games. He was especially hot down the stretch before the IL stint — .367 over his last 18 games. So the Dodgers have every reason to think he can slide right back into the middle of that lineup.
And what a lineup it is. You’ve got Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Kyle Tucker already. Adding Hernandez gives them another proven run producer. But Dave Roberts has already said they’ll ease him in. The Dodgers are sitting at 54-30 with a 10-game lead in the NL West. They went 18-10 without him. So there’s no panic.
The smart play is to use him carefully now so he’s still mashing in October. Hernandez knows that. The fans know that. But hearing him say he’s ready and watching him bomb rehab pitching? That’s the kind of thing that gets a clubhouse buzzing. And a division sweating.
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