The Los Angeles Dodgers are missing two versatile pieces of their lineup as both Kiké Hernández and Hyeseong Kim sit on the injured list with left elbow inflammation and left shoulder bursitis, respectively.
Hernández was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to July 6, while Kim’s stint began more recently on July 29.
Kim’s road to recovery has been relatively straightforward, and the Dodgers are optimistic his injury will be a short-term issue.
The opposite has been true of Hernández, who was initially was projected to return shortly after the All-Star break. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t go as far as to say the team was worried about Hernández’s availability the rest of the season, but the skipper did mention that it was not a guarantee.
Dodgers updates
Kiké Hernández
The latest updates on Hernández’s condition now are more positive. He is still a ways off from being ready to be activated, but his elbow has started to improve after being treated with both a cortisone shot and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.
“He’s feeling better,” Roberts said. “The cortisone shot, the PRP, both of those that he did, it’s responded well. So, yeah, he’s moving around, but it’s still a ways away.
“Still got to do the baseball activities, but it’s a good sign that he’s throwing. The bat is what’s going to be the interesting one, because that was the problem, the left elbow, and there’s going to be a rehab assignment.
“He’s playing catch, but he could have always played catch as far as the right arm and keeping that moving, so that’s good.”
Hyseong Kim
Meanwhile, Kim has continued to make progress this week, fielding some grounders at second base and hitting in the cage.
“Hyeseong is doing well. He took some swings in the cage. I think on Friday we’ll get him in a hitting group,” Roberts said. “So he’s coming along. I think he says he’s almost pain-free, so hopefully we’ll get him back here soon.”
Kim attempted to play through his injury for about a week before the Dodgers decided to place him on the IL. It had a noticeable impact on his ability at the plate, as Kim went 3-for-24 during a nine-game stretch while injured.
Roberts believes that Kim gained insight from the ordeal and hopes that the rookie is more forthcoming going forward.
“Hyeseong is a tough kid. He wants to play, he doesn’t like being on the IL,” Roberts said.
“But I do think that him telling us how he feels is helpful, and I do think it’s a learning experience for him, because when he’s playing and he’s not healthy, he wasn’t playing good, hitting good.
“So that’s something that I think he’s learned.”
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