Jason Heyward enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and it led to re-signing with the team, but the veteran outfielder has yet to get on track this year.
Heyward appeared in just four games before being placed on the 10-day injured list April 3 due to lower back tightness. He was eligible to be activated over the weekend but remains sidelined because of lingering trouble.
“He’s trending in the right way as far as feeling better, but the residual soreness has sort of been looming,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s going to have to go on a rehab assignment given now the time off that he’s had and going to have.”
When previously discussing Heyward’s recovery and outlook, Roberts said the team had not yet decided if a rehab assignment would be necessary before the veteran outfielder returned to the Dodgers lineup. The team planned to have Heyward face live pitching at Dodger Stadium this week and then discuss possibly joining a Minor League affiliate.
But given Heyward is projected to remain on the IL for the time being, that stance has now changed.
Even though Heyward’s return somewhat appears to be on the horizon, the Dodgers and Roberts still do not have a definitive timeline of when that would be.
“I don’t know what the outlook is. I still believe it’s going to be shorter term from here, but I don’t know what the timeline is,” Roberts said.
In the meantime, Taylor Trammell has been Heyward’s replacement on the Dodgers roster. Trammell was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners but has seen limited action since joining the club, with no hits in six at-bats.
Jason Heyward’s injury creates opportunity
Although Trammell has been a direct replacement of sorts for Heyward, his extended absence is now leading to the Dodgers recalling prospect Andy Pages from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Pages already is on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster but a corresponding move is required to get him active. That could be accomplished with an injured list stint for one of the struggling outfielders, or designating a player for assignment — with Trammell the most likely candidate.
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